Police campaign aims to bust myth of ‘ safe’ street drugs
Abbotsford police have launched an anti- ecstasy campaign in response to a series of recent deaths in the Lower Mainland attributed to use of the street drug.
The Operation X campaign unveiled Monday involves the distribution of posters in schools, and other areas frequented by youth, warning of the dangers of using ecstasy and other street drugs. There will also be signs at bus stops throughout the city.
Sgt. Casey Vinet of the police department’s youth squad said the object of the campaign was to tell young people — many of whom believe that ecstasy is safer than other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine — that all street drugs are dangerous. Two young people in Abbotsford have died after using ecstasy in recent months, while Vancouver and Calgary have also seen a spate of deaths related to the drug.
“One of the things we keep hearing from our young people is that they think ecstasy is a safe drug,” said Vinet. “There is no such thing as a safe illicit drug and we are determined to spread the word as far and wide as possible.”
One poster aims to bust that misconception by listing the toxic ingredients potentially found in ecstasy as if it were a list of ingredients found on food packaging.
The campaign follows a letter written by Chief Const. Bob Rich to all parents of high school students, urging them to inform themselves about street drugs and discuss their concerns with their children.
“The Abbotsford police department is committed to doing everything it can to keep all the young people in our community safe,” Rich said in his letter.
“As we meet with young people in our schools we see so much potential and we want their lives to be all they can be,” he said.
The police service has also set up an all- day youth line for teens and parents who need advice and would like to talk about police or drug issues.