INSIDE COVER STORY ______________ In August 2012, 17-yearold Tyler Campbell died at home from overdosing on Fentanyl, an extremely powerful drug typically used in medical anesthesia and to control severe pain. Campbell’s death garnered a lot of media attention; in part because it was a tragic situation from a relatively unknown drug, but also because the teen lived in Manotick, an upscale, Ottawa suburb where some residents had been reluctant to admit that Fentanyl abuse and its drug related crime had become a problem in their community.
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Safe City Mississauga
A Conference to Remember
14 Don Cherry
PG. 30
A Partner for a Safer Community
16 The Aspire After School Program
Connecting Kids with the Community
27 Idle No More
PG. 6
A Balancing Act For Anishinabek Police Service
30 Enhancing Crime Prevention Program Delivery
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design
37 The Break Free Family Centre
Providing psychological, therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation for our community since 2003
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FROM THE EDITOR e cask e t th to r te n ou c e from th
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Jacques Beauchamp Former Regional Police Office EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Christine Panasuk CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jonathan Beauchamp PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jonathan Beauchamp GRAPHICS & ART www.DESIGNit.CA PRINTED IN ONTARIO, CANADA Dollco, a division of The Lowe-Martin Group CONTRIBUTORS Teresa Burgess-Ogilvie
Brittany Wakefield
Don Cherry
Patricia Keith
Sheena Moya Chen ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Don Holt Thomas Easton Daniel Cole Crimesense is published by Vantage Publishing Group Corp. and distributed free, all rights reserved. Contents and photographs may not be reprinted without written permission. The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in articles published in this magazine are those of the authors and publication shall not be deemed to mean they are necessarily those of Vantage Publishing Group Corp. or other affiliated organizations. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials. Publications Mail Agreement No. 41927547 ISSN 1927-3142 Crimesense Magazine (Print) ISSN 1927-3150 Crimesense Magazine (Online) Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 40 Colonnade Road Nor th Ottawa, Ontario K2E 7J6 Telephone: 1-888-724-9907 info@vantagepublishing.ca www.vantagepublishing.ca
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f you haven’t heard of it before, you’re not alone. It is a potent narcotic that was designed as a medication for people experiencing severe pain and usually comes in skin patch or pill form. I call for a health advisory regarding the safe use of Fentanyl, as it has become much more than just a medication; It has hit the streets and become a problem in Ontario and throughout Canada amongst teenagers. Due to an increase in accessibility, and having a more powerful effect than Heroin, Fentanyl has become more popular than ever. There’s also been an increase in Fentanyl related deaths throughout Canada. However, little to no thought is being given to the effects of fentanyl abuse (until it’s too late). Some of the harmful effects can include, but are not limited to: - trouble breathing - extreme sleepiness - inability to think, talk or walk normally - dizzy spells Another reason for the increase in popularity of Fentanyl is that fact that it’s cheaper than many other narcotics that are out there. In 2006, those who were illegally manufacturing non-pharmaceutical Fentanyl often mixed it with cocaine and heroin which caused a spike
SAY HELLO
in overdoses and death. Conversely, drug dealers of heroin and other less powerful drugs were adding Fentanyl powder to their drugs to increase the potency. I don’t wish to scare people with this information, but rather to inform on the dangers of this drug and provide awareness to parents who may not know about it and teenagers who have either tried it or struggle with the idea of trying it. Fentanyl is a highly addictive drug that can have fatal results when abused; it’s quite serious. With that, how it is dealt with should be taken seriously as well. An expert on the national drug panel believes the Ontario government may reduce access to Fentanyl through dosing limits and by removing the drug from the list of those available under the provincial plan. Whether this happens or not, being educated about the drug and making the choice not to use it is what’s important. The ‘high’ of Fentanyl lasts only a short time, but the knowledge about the harmful effects of it can last much longer than that once we spread the word.
Jacques Beauchamp Editor-in-Chief
Share your comments or suggestions with Jacques by sending him an email at:
jacques@vantagepublishing.ca
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he 2012 Crime Prevention Conference was on Remembrance Day and dedicated to the military, both active and retired. We think of crime prevention as something we do in a community to keep us safe or to ensure crime doesn’t get worse. But, we don’t always see how the men and women who volunteer to join the military forces are the epitome of crime prevention hero’s. They are all over the world to ensure that risk factors are kept in check and that protective factors meet the challenges – for one central theme - keeping Canada safe (for us). The conference and Remembrance Day Ceremony were opportunities to honour their legacy and pay tribute to the sacrifices they have made and continue to make. Honoured guests included members of the 2nd Military Police Regiment; Mr. Jack Porter, Zone B-7 Commander, Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Command; Brian Sampson, Vice President Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 139 Streetsville; and Captain Derek Mooney – Toronto Scottish Regiment.
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...and he did it anyway.Why? He told her that he would do whatever it took to someday provide his family with a safe place to live and ensure his children could attend school. Freedoms we take for granted.
The key note was Major Vanessa M. Hanrahan, Commanding Officer, 2 Military Police Regiment. She joined the Canadian Forces in 1994 as a member of the Communication Reserves, and transferred to the regular force as a Military Police Officer after completing her BA. She served in several Military Police Companies, and completed her first operational tour in 2004, when she deployed to Haiti to assist in stabilizing the country after a coup d’état. Major Hanrahan spoke of her experiences in Afghanistan, where she deployed in support of the NATO Training Mission from August 2010 to August 2011. Her role on this deployment was to act as an advisor to the Afghan National Police at the Regional Training Center in Kandahar.
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Major Hanrahan absolutely captivated us with stories and realities of prevention work in military policing (training others to protect themselves). The room was laughing and crying. She told about one gentleman whom she worked with in Afghanistan who would get up every morning and make a dangerous drive to the training grounds even while knowing he was marked to be killed – and he did it anyway. Why? He told her that he would do whatever it took to someday provide his family with a safe place to live and ensure his children could attend school. Freedoms we take for granted. Every day, we ask individuals to become part of the fight against crime by becoming involved in crime prevention. It seems to be a social cause which most Canadians list as very important but may not necessarily become involved, individually. It doesn’t mean they don’t care but possibly they are currently not experiencing an atrisk situation. Or they may be fearful of retaliation for reporting a crime. It may also be that it is something they feel the police are solely responsible for – they’re not. We are all responsible and we owe it not only to our families, neighbours, schools, police and cities but more importantly to our Veterans and active duty personnel. We need to do our part here in our communities, especially since we expect them to deploy to the most dangerous parts of the world and risk their lives for our freedoms in Canada. Quite frankly, it’s the least we can do. Major Hanrahan spoke of her appreciation for our freedoms here in Canada and how important it is to ensure we safeguard these freedoms for the future. I’ll give you an example: Imagine your child, parent or loved one and now imagine a place in your community that you hope they don’t go because you FEAR for their safety. Why? Is it because there is a “bad element” that lives there or because it has a high crime rate or is in the media for violent incidents? So what do you do? If you are like most people, you just don’t go into that part of town or forbid your children from hanging out there (that works, eh?). What if the police or the military had that attitude? We would be appalled. So why is it that we have a different attitude about our own dangerous parts of the world – in our cities? When we avoid our individual responsibility to take back the places and report the people in our community that are offending our basic principle of the freedom to move about our community without fear - then we are not doing our part.
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We must REMEMBER there are people that live there, now. There are women and children as well as elders living there for one reason or another. We cannot leave them behind. They desire as much if not more than others to have a safe place to live and to be able to send their children to school without fear. Sound familiar? We must REMEMBER unreported crime eats away at a community like a cancer. I hear, “But I don’t want to be a witness.” Well, how do you think the victim feels and what if it was you or a loved one that was the victim? Then, you would, as we often see family members doing - pleading for witnesses. And truly – you can be anonymous through Crime Stoppers if you do nothing else. Yes, it is true that being a witness will be one of the toughest things you may ever do but it is also one of the most courageous. Call a veteran – they will stand with you. We must REMEMBER that when we turn our backs on the ones who need us the most in our own communities then we have no right to expect others to give their lives to protect us. When we don’t take crime prevention seriously then we set ourselves up to have the criminals take over. And they will because it is proven that when risk factors go unchecked the protective factors will eventually no longer be able to hold the line. For the rest of the conference - we were fortunate to have Jason Colero, Director, Education Programs and Argos Foundation, Toronto Argonauts Football Club emcee the event and was he well received! If you haven’t heard him emcee an event before – you’re missing out. Later, they won the Grey Cup and I took credit for being a good luck charm. The registrants were from many backgrounds including police, social workers, political leaders, community leaders, school board members, teachers, municipal employees, security personnel, religious leaders, and youth – lots of youth! The speakers were from diverse backgrounds, too, in order to demonstrate the many factors we have to consider that effect a safe city. Speakers included Dana Wilson (Peel Children and Youth Initiative/University of Toronto Mississauga) Session Title: A Neighbourhood Approach to Understanding and Addressing Crime in Peel Region; Scott Mills (Toronto Police Service) Session Title: Social Media for Success and Safety; Constable Tom McKay (Peel Regional Police), Wayne Nishihama (City of Mississauga), Randy Jamieson (City of Mississauga) Session Title: CPTED in Mississauga: 20 Years Later; Melissa Punambolam (Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Government of Ontario) Session Title: The Truth About Youth; Tina Hotton Mahony (University of Guelph) and Dr. Myrna Dawson (University of Guelph), Session Title: Provincial Variation in Police Response to Intimate Partner Violence; and Graham Clyne (Peel Children and Youth Initiative), Session Title: Understanding the Use of Economic Evaluations: The Challenge of Demonstrating “Value”. One of the highlights of the day was the HERO Awards, sponsored by Bell. The 2012 winners were Larry Camejo. Larry has made it a mission to conduct as many personal safety training sessions for women and seniors, as possible. He teaches women and seniors techniques that allow them to be aware of their surroundings, to protect themselves and to avoid victimization.
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SHESHAND SINGH. He initiated a volunteer program at Sheridan for the Police Foundation Students. For the summer of 2012, Sheshand and his volunteers patrolled the Mississauga Celebration Square to ensure a positive and safe space for thousands of people using the square. CONSTABLE JESSICA INNES. Jessica brought together volunteers from various organizations for Operation Clean Sweep. Together they cleaned up graffiti in the city and prevented further acts of vandalism. Through Operation Clean Sweep, she gave a sense of ownership back to the residents. FRANK CHRISTO. Frank was instrumental in organization a Neighbourhood Watch program after many break-and-enters and car thefts in his area. He kept his neighbours informed and held many events and activities for his community. Through Frank’s efforts, his neighbourhood now feels safe and a sense of community. CENTURY AUDIO VISUAL/MR. COLIN TYLER. Century Audio Visual has made regular in-kind donations to various nonprofit groups and organizations throughout Mississauga for many years. They have been extremely generous by providing their equipment and services free-of-charge so that organizations helping people could afford it. MALTON RESIDENT REJUVENATION INITIATIVE. The Malton Resident Rejuvenation Initiative is comprised of Malton residents who provide resources and support to their community in times of crisis. This initiative educates the community and provides a support network for victims of crime. Accepting on behalf of Malton Resident Rejuvenation Initiative was Co-Chairs, Shawn McCullough and Jerome Morgan.
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These are people making a difference in our community and supporting activities that keep our city safe. They are drivers for change and set an example of what difference one person can make in the local community. The conference attracted people interested in crime prevention contributing to their readiness to be engaged and mobilized. We hope this year’s conference registrants walked away feeling more ready than before. The conference success continues to be due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the UTM administrator, Mr. Paul Donahue and the UTM Steering Committee members: Campus Police Chief Len Paris; Bill McFadden, Director of Hospitality & Retail Services, Lauren Merton, Manager Conference Services and Jasmine Chong, Community Affairs and Development Manager for Safe City Mississauga.
Special “Thank You” to MP Brad Butt, MPP Soo Wong, Mayor Hazel McCallion, Dr. Ulli Krull, Vice Principal of the University of Toronto Mississauga and our new Chief of Police, Jennifer Evans from Peel Regional Police for bringing opening welcome remarks. Feel free to join us this November for a Faith Based Approach to Prevent Youth Violence and we look forward to seeing you at the 2014 Crime Prevention Conference next May! CS w w w . s a f e c i t y m i s s i s s au g a . o n . c a
We are also fortunate to have the body of knowledge from the annual conference supported by Vantage Publishing in the CrimeSense magazine and due to the founding sponsor BELL, we will continue to recognize and promote public recognition appeal to actively engage individuals and organizations for making a significant contribution to preventing and/or reducing crime or improving community safety through the HERO awards. Our supporters included the Canadian Forces, City of Mississauga, Peel Regional Police & Service Board, CPTED Ontario and Victim Services of Peel as well as The Mississauga News and thehazeFM.ca.
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April 19, 2013 Hi, I’m Don Cherry and I live in Mississauga and I’m here to tell you how you can help a charitable organization called Safe City Mississauga which prevents kids from dropping out of school, teaches kids healthy relationships, helps women and girls to understand and prevent acts of violence against them, preventing graffiti which is a pet peeve of mine and helps our neighborhood take back our neighborhood against crime. Each year, the Chief of Peel Regional Police is asked to deliver the State of Policing in Peel address. Chief Jennifer Evans will personally provide an inside look at the successes and challenges of policing in the Region of Peel. The proceeds from this event support this year’s programs so your investment as either a sponsor or by attending the Justice Luncheon makes a real difference in real time. As Mississauga grows it will see challenges. A safe place to live, work and play is always one of the top concerns of most people. That is why 14
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I am thankful for an organization like Safe City Mississauga and appreciate the work they do in community crime prevention. As a potential sponsor, you likely get a lot of requests for a donation or sponsorship and there are so many great causes but feeling safe where you live, work, go to school or play is always a top issue.
Please know that I share in your commitment to do my part for our Community in preventing crime in Mississauga. Thanks again for the consideration of sponsoring the 2013 Justice Luncheon and using your resources to help Safe City Mississauga prevent crime in the City of Mississauga, we must all pitch in because it’s the place where our families live. Partners for a safer community,
Don Cherry Ambassador Safe city mississauga 15
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W
hether it’s learning a new approach to a math problem, writing a creative story about the day or playing a fun game of cards, when you walk into an Aspire program location you will see bright smiles not only on the faces of the students, but on those of the youth volunteers working with them. Aspire is an after school one on one and two on one tutoring program offered to students living in atrisk Mississauga neighbourhoods at no cost. The students range from Kindergarten to grade 6 and receive help in the subjects in which they need support most. Although there are a range of subjects that students can get tutored in, you will typically observe children getting support in math, language or French. Although sessions are focused and students and tutors work diligently to get tasks done, laughing and a positive atmosphere are to be expected. Additional components of this program include a safe place to learn, a nutritious snack, guest speakers, leadership skills training, performance evaluations, parent meetings and learning journeys, where students have the opportunity to go on trips that incite wonder and curiosity. The Aspire program wouldn’t work without the support and whole-hearted participation of the volunteers involved. These are the many talented and invested high school and university students who volunteer their time and academic expertise to making a difference in the lives of students and families in their community. If you ask a volunteer why they chose to get involved with Aspire you will get many responses ranging from gaining valuable experience, interest in working with children and meeting the required volunteer hours to graduate high school. And although these are all compelling motivators for many youth today, the common response among the greater majority of them is the sense that they are doing something meaningful for their community; and that they truly are. Recent literature has emphasized the role of education as an important determinant of crime. Given the prominent role of education in an individual’s life, educational experience has both significant direct and indirect effects on criminality. In the early 1990’s, criminologists John Laub and Robert Sampson conducted research that demonstrated that school attitudes and performance (as measured by grades) affect delinquency rates. High grade point averages and positive student attitudes toward school have been shown to reduce the likelihood of adolescent criminal behaviour. The Aspire program helps students develop a positive attitude towards learning and the classroom. Through regular attendance in the program, students improve their academic and social development and develop feelings of self confidence, meanwhile bonding with positive role models that help them build better social skills and develop good work habits. 17
“When I first started doing Aspire in grade 9, I had no idea how this would change me as a person. I helped my students do better at school and in return, they helped me become responsible, compassionate and improve my communication. I became an important part in their lives and influenced change and it feels amazing to know that my work is changing someone’s future. Now, going away for university, I’m taking all these new skills and experiences with me and I am so glad that I decided to tutor.”
Nahleen A.
The Aspire program reduces opportunities for crime through producing children who are confident and able to make healthier life choices. For many young people, having a positive peer mentor can mean the difference between graduation and excelling in school, and dropping out or disliking the classroom. The Aspire program has been in operation since 2010 with centres currently operating in three Mississauga neighbourhoods. For the duration of time that the program has been running it has been contributing to making the community safe. For example, through looking at property crime statistics in Mississauga, one will note that although the city’s average stayed the same over the past few years, in our most long standing Aspire location, although there were some fluctuations, this type of crime diminished since Aspire was implemented. The difference was greatest between 2009 (before Aspire was there) and 2010 (after Aspire was implemented). With Safe City Mississauga being a recognized leader in crime prevention, we are hoping to see the same positive effects in subsequent communities in which Aspire is implemented. The Aspire program contributes to ‘community capacity-building’ in the neighbourhoods in which they are implemented. Youth violence prevention is fostered through the increase in individual protective factors such as success at school, positive attitudes and positive adult and
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peer role models and mentors. We believe that all children should have access to meaningful learning experiences, and by offering focused tutoring sessions for free, but of high quality, we provide them with the opportunity to access a program that offers innovative approaches to instruction and is aligned with what teachers are doing inside the classroom. The process of selection for our volunteers includes an interview, the revision of grades, and a police background check, in addition to ensuring that each volunteer possess the character to act as positive role-models and peer mentors for the students.
The Aspire program affects students in the following ways: • The increase in academic skill development, and ultimately school grades • The increase in self-confidence and feelings of self-worth (as the child feels good about their academic performance) • The increase in social skills development, as children interact positively amongst each other and with their tutors
The volunteers (youth tutors) are affected in the following ways: • The opportunity to give back to the community and be a positive role-model /peer mentor to children living in their communities • The opportunity to gain leadership experience and receive hours that go towards high school graduation
• The opportunity to get work experience and gain references for future academic and work related pursuits • Teaches mentors the importance of commitment and sensitizes them to the needs, experiences, and situations of other individuals in their community. These benefits work to reduce opportunities for crime in communities where the program is delivered as children become less likely to engage in criminal behaviour. This may extend to a diminished likelihood of criminals being apprehended, as community cohesiveness increases through the positive interaction of child, parent and youth volunteer. Community ties are strengthened, and misconceptions or stereotypes previously held are reduced or dispelled, in comparison to before program participation. It is important to mention that the Aspire program is an evidence based program. Although it is very important that students and volunteers have a great time at our centres, it is even more important that we can prove that it works. And to date we are able to say that it does. Through test groups of our program participants we have gathered statistics that show upwards trends in letter grades on report cards as well we improvements in our key indicators. People are taking a notice of this and seeing the value of what Aspire can bring to at-risk neighbourhoods. The International Society of Crime
Prevention Practitioners (ISCPP) in an organization whose mission is to contribute to the reduction and control of criminal opportunity and victimization. Each year a symposium is held to honor and award those practitioners making a difference not only in the communities they serve, but also in the world of crime prevention. One of those awards is the Community Crime Prevention Project-Program awarded to an outstanding NON-POLICE community based crime prevention program-project which enhances crime prevention initiatives at the local, state, provincial or national level. Winners are selected from nominations provided by fellow practitioners from around the world, and in 2012 the Aspire program was given this prestigious award. At the representation of the award before Mayor Hazel McCallion and Council on November 14th, 2012 Jacob Mouro, the current President Elect of the ISCPP stated “that they not only felt that this year’s winner enhanced the crime prevention initiative locally in Mississauga but that the program provides a model for practitioners around the world”. We are thrilled to hear such feedback and look forward to expanding the Aspire program into other priority neighbourhoods in Mississauga affording children living there the opportunity to participate in a program that will lead to them making healthier life choices both inside and outside of the classroom. CS
“Aspire has enhanced my leadership skills and provided me with opportunities to act as a positive role model assisting students to reach for their goals. Aspire not only provides a great learning environment for students, but at the same time allows tutors to develop better communication skills as they work with young students. I started volunteering with this program in grade 9 and will be graduating high school this year. I will always look back at my experiences with the Aspire program very fondly.” Judyann L.
For
m o r e i n f o r m at i o n o r to l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h e A s p i r e p ro g r a m a n d h o w yo u c a n g e t i n vo lv e d v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e at w w w . s a f e c i t y m i s s i s s au g a . o n . c a
Written by: Sheena Moya Chen, HBSc, MA Youth Outreach Supervisor
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In August 2012, 17-year-old Tyler Campbell died at home from overdosing on Fentanyl, an extremely powerful drug typically used in medical anesthesia and to control severe pain. Campbell’s death garnered a lot of media attention; in part because it was a tragic situation from a relatively unknown drug, but also because the teen lived in Manotick, an upscale, Ottawa suburb where some residents had been reluctant to admit that Fentanyl abuse and its drug related crime had become a problem in their community.
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entanyl was relatively unknown to Ottawa police as well and it was only a short time before that the drug had showed up on their radar as a result of a different criminal investigation. That previous fall, police had noticed several similarities between residential break-ins occurring throughout the Manotick area. A few months later in January 2012, police arrested and charged a young offender with 12 of the break-ins. During questioning, the youth revealed that he was hooked on Fentanyl and that his addiction had reached a point where he had to commit these break-ins to feed his habit.
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The youth also revealed that several of his friends were hooked on the drug too. “These were kids who had never been involved with the police before,” says Staff Sgt. Kal Ghadban with the Ottawa Police Service’s Street Crime Unit and Break and Enter Team. “They came from middle-to-upperclass families. Unfortunately, this particular kid was breaking into places where he knew the occupants because he also knew what property the occupants had inside.”
NOT MY KID
Around the same time, School Resource Officer Const. Monique Paquette was approached by someone at the Manotick high school she was assigned to. The person told Paquette they were concerned about how much Fentanyl a few of the students were using and feared these students would overdose. Paquette was noticing odd behaviour in a few of these students too, and as she says, in some cases she felt as though she was watching little zombies roam the halls. After meeting with school officials and other stakeholders, she began her own investigation and identified approximately 12 students who she believed were addicted to Fentanyl, though her information also revealed many more had sampled the powerful drug. Paquette began contacting the families of the students she suspected of being addicted to Fentanyl or who she knew were frequently sampling the drug. Together with the school, she had put together an education plan and some information to help support the families and their addicted child. As Paquette tells it, hearing their child may have a drug problem is difficult for any family to hear but, in general, most of the families were cooperative.
Staff Sgt. Ghadban is more direct in his assessment of their initial contact with the families, noting that there was a lot of denial in the beginning from the parents who didn’t want to believe their child had a drug problem. “Const. Paquette faced a real uphill battle with some of these parents,” says Ghadban. “A lot of parents downplayed it because it was a prescription drug saying things like ‘well, it’s not like my kid is doing cocaine’ or ‘at least my kid isn’t buying crack off the streets of downtown Ottawa.’ Some of these parents really didn’t want to admit there was a problem.” But as Ghadban explains, the Fentanyl abuse occurring in Manotick was potentially worse than any of the other street drugs typically associated with teenage experimenting. “These parents really needed to understand that abusing a prescription drug like Fentanyl was bad: it was extremely dangerous, was still illegal, and that yes, it was happening with their kid right here in rural Manotick.”
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New service to combat rise in opioid addiction
In response to a growing opioid addiction problem and requests for medical detox services, The Royal Hospital launched the Regional Opioid Intervention Service in January 2013. A first of its kind in Ontario, the unique service combines a new outpatient opioid intervention clinic at The Royal with a network of community and other hospital service providers to offer patients a full spectrum of care. Specifically, the new program provides early intervention for opioid addiction while also treating the patient’s mental health disorders.
Chasing a deadly high
Fentanyl is an extremely addictive prescription narcotic that is approximately 100 times more powerful than morphine and produces biological effects similar to heroin. It is marketed under several brand names including Sublimaze, Actiq and Duragesic, and is often prescribed as a time-released patch which is worn on the skin. When taken illegally, the Fentanyl is diverted from the patch where it can then be injected, smoked or taken orally. With illegal patches on the street going for $150 - $300 each, this isn’t a cheap drug. To afford it, police discovered that several of the Manotick teens were pooling their money together, buying a patch, and then cutting the patch up into little pieces. The pieces of the Fentanyl patch would then be shared amongst the group and taken orally – an extremely dangerous practice because when the Fentanyl is diverted this way, there’s no telling how much Fentanyl each piece contains. And with a powerful narcotic like Fentanyl that comes in various strengths, this can, and has, proved deadly.
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“Most patients have mental health disorders, especially anxiety related disorders, that also need to be treated, say Dr. Melanie Willows, Clinical Director of the Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders Program at The Royal. “By identifying and treating the underlying mental health problems along with problematic drug use, we can help to prevent the likelihood of relapse.” The new program is meant for individuals who are under 30 years of age, or for those who have been using opioids for less than five years. Willows estimates that of the patients they’ve provided services to so far, at least half of them are much younger than 30 years of age, with a good part being between 17-to-22-years-old. “Many of the people we see go to work or school,” says Willows. “They have an addiction problem but their life hasn’t completely fallen apart. Each person is an individual so their treatment program is designed for them. We want to make sure people get the help they need.”
Youth and parental involvement key to effective treatment
Another centre providing addiction and mental health treatment services is the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre (DSYTC). The DSYTC helps young people between the ages of 13 and 21 overcome substance abuse by providing a six month program combination of in-house residential treatment with an intensive aftercare program. Glenn Barnes is president and CEO of the DSYTC. Barnes says he distinctly remembers one patient who told him that after trying several opiates, Fentanyl was definitely his preferred drug. “He said that when he found Fentanyl, it was the best high he had ever had,” says Barnes. Barnes says that one of the things he is opposed to is the old adage that someone has to hit rock bottom before seeking treatment. But if someone hasn’t hit rock bottom, how motivated can they possibly be to change their behaviour? “Let’s not kid ourselves,” says Barnes. “These kids aren’t always motivated to get help. In fact, coercion exists in some degree in almost all of the cases and in different ways.”
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF FENTANYL ABUSE
The main symptoms of Fentanyl abuse will be euphoria, drowsiness, lethargy and mellowness. Others include: Dizziness and lightheadedness Dry mouth • Retention of urine Suppression of breathing Severe constipation • Itching or hives Nausea and vomiting Loss of appetite • Weight loss Headache • Difficulty seeing Depression • Hallucinations Bad dreams • Difficulty sleeping Sweating • Shaking Swollen extremities
Parental involvement is extremely important, and the DSYTC actively engages parents in the treatment of their children. Barnes says that in many of the cases, parents and their children need to relearn how to discuss things and get the communication flowing again. As he explains, parents and their children might not always agree, but that’s OK. The first step is to be able to communicate and get out of the whole ‘I’ll push your buttons and you’ll push mine’ type of communication. Barnes says all of their programs have been demonstrated in clinical trials to be extremely effective. And, with the exception of a little spending money for weekend outings, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers all of the costs for treatment.
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As Ghadban says, it’s important to remember Manotick’s Fentanyl problem all started with a few kids experimenting. “We all know youth will experiment,” explains Ghadban. “But everyone, parents included, needs to understand that experimenting with Fentanyl is a dangerous and deadly experiment to do.”
Small steps making a difference
Education is key to preventing Fentanyl abuse
When the Fentanyl problem first become known to Ottawa Police, they realized that there was a huge education component that needed to take place. A town hall session was held where Manotick residents heard from several organizations and community partners about the dangers of Fentanyl and how to recognize the signs of abuse. Const. Paquette created a presentation for all of the students through Grades 7 to 12 which she says was specifically designed to not be preachy, but to simply present the information and educate the students so they could feel empowered to make their own decisions. The presentation was extremely well received. “It was like the elephant in the room,” says Paquette. “Most of the kids had heard about Fentanyl and what was going on, but they didn’t think they could talk about it. After the presentation, it was like a huge weight was lifted off of their shoulders. It was huge.”
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Prescription drug abuse, including Fentanyl abuse, is still a significant problem affecting communities across Canada. Less than a month ago in May 2013, British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall issued a warning about a sudden spike in fatal fentanyl overdoses. According to Kendall, the B.C. Coroners Service had recorded 23 deaths associated with Fentanyl in the first four months of 2013. By comparison, in 2012 there were 20 deaths for the entire year, and in 2011 only eight. According to a recent Ottawa Police news release, recent studies indicate 24 per cent of teens reported misusing prescription medications at least once within the previous year. Most of the teens took the medication from their family home. Common prescription drugs being misused are opioid pain relievers (such as oxycodone and Fentanyl), antidepressants, and stimulants. As part of a province-wide public safety initiative, Ottawa Police recently hosted a free, anonymous Prescription Drug Drop Off Day for citizens wishing to dispose of outdated, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Disposing of prescription drugs safely is extremely important, especially in the case of Fentanyl. Fentanyl patches are typically worn on the skin for two-to-three days, but actually contain about five days worth of medication. This has led to used Fentanyl patches having been cut up or sold, either knowingly or not by the person who was prescribed the patch. Westboro Pharmasave is an independent, community-focussed pharmacy located in Ottawa’s Westboro district. Pharmacist Don Johnstone says that Westboro Pharmasave actively participates to treat addiction and has leading-edge policies in place to help prevent prescription drug abuse. “We (Westboro Pharmasave) require that patients who are prescribed Fentanyl bring back their used patches before we reissue new ones,” says Johnstone. “This helps prevent the used patches from being sold or diverted.”
WHERE TO GET HELP THE ROYAL HOSPITAL LAUNCHED THE REGIONAL OPIOID INTERVENTION SERVICE
One of the goals of The Royal’s new program is to make it as accessible as possible. Orientation sessions are held monthly at The Royal and people can register to attend a session by calling 613-722-6521 ext: 6105. People can also access the program by a referral from one of their partner agencies, or by attending The Royal in person at 1145 Carling Avenue in Ottawa.
DAVE SMITH YOUTH TREATMENT CENTRE
The Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre (DSYTC) is a non-profit, residential, and community-based agency that is dedicated to helping youth between the ages of 13 and 21 overcome substance abuse and related issues. Admission related questions can be answered by calling 613-594-8333 ext: 2206 or by emailing admissions@davesmithcentre.org.
Johnstone reports that out of those his pharmacy has prescribed Fentanyl to, only one person has made an issue of this policy. With very few effective government regulations in place, leading-edge pharmacies like the Westboro Pharmasave are taking important steps to help protect their community. Johnstone reports that several doctors are now issuing their own directives on prescriptions ordering that the old patches be returned before new ones are issued. Help keep everyone safe by returning your unused prescription medication. It’s often as simple as returning the unused medication to your local pharmacy. CS
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he relationship between First Nation peoples’ and the federal government has been described by former Canadian Prime
Minister Paul Martin as colonial, “fixated on assimilation of Aboriginal peoples’ into a culture that is not theirs” (Postmedia News, Past PM Interviews on Current Affairs). The decrepit living conditions and standard of treatment of many Anishinabek people by the federal government has produced negative attention from the outside community; albeit a treaty was negotiated and signed to co-exist and share lands and resources. In addition, inaction with regard to the recommendations from the 1996 RCAP, Ipperwash Inquiry, numerous health, housing, environmental studies and reports; and retired Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci Jury Report findings, clearly indicate and confirm the disconnect between Anishinabek people and the government.
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rail slowdowns occurred, and individual fasts all intended to bring awareness of the struggle of Anishinabek people and the consequences Bill C-45 will have on everyone.
Ottawa Demonstration
A few weeks following Harper’s introduction to parliament of C-45 in October 2012, four Indigenous women from Saskatchewan, coordinated a teach in on the impacts Bill C-45 would have on First Nations. More teach ins followed and in an act of solidarity (using facebook/twitter), interest and lobby groups experiencing similar inequality and treatment from around the globe joined the grassroots movement - gathering in public and waving signs donning the catchphrase: Idle No More. In Ontario, flash mobs and round dances sprung up in shopping malls, Aboriginal peoples’ occupied parliament hill grounds in Ottawa, protests occurred in a number of cities, numerous traffic/
Ottawa Demonstration
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The Anishinabek Police Service mandate is to provide for the safety and well-being of First Nation communities, respect our traditional and cultural values, support victims of crime and protect Anishinabek inherent rights and freedoms. “I support any person or group’s right to protest peacefully,” said Anishinabek Police Chief John Syrette, “our officers are members of the communities they police and have an appreciation of the views stated by the protesters.” Other factors impacting APS’s response is the type of activity, the location, if it’s an individual or a number of demonstrators, duration and of course human resource limitations. “Public safety is paramount,” said Chief Syrette. “ The last thing APS wants is anyone hurt.” “It’s a balancing act, APS must balance the Constitutional rights of all people which includes the Anishinabek peoples’ right to peacefully assemble and express themselves with respect to the abrogation of the treaties.” From Anishinabek Police Service’s perspective, the demonstrations in APS territory policed have been relatively peaceful in nature; aside from the characteristic hand gesture, curse and thumbs up illustrating both opposition and support. In preparation of Idle No More, Anishinabek Police Service developed “Operation Safe Idle” which blend the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations and other pre-existing standard operating procedures. Operation Safe Idle included response strategies that allowed flexibility based on the degree of difficulty or threat. Ever mindful of the principle to use the minimum police intervention required to restore the situation to a peaceful state. Chief Syrette encourages Idle No More, or any group demonstrating, to continue peaceful assembly and protest reduceing the risk of violence and justification of violence. One Garden River First Nation member was not as fortunate. A female member and primary Idle No More organizer received a letter, cut from newspaper lettering that read “Stay away from the Sault. Your a
dead piece of shi#. A good Indian is a dead Indian.� Threatening correspondence was also sent to other businesses and people in the area. Chief Syrette cautions Idle No More protestors that even though preventative measures are taken (e.g. positive public interaction) bad behaviour can still occur. To some of the public the reasons for protest is clear and for others: murky. Is it to right past wrongs, to have meaningful consultation (and accommodation) with First Nations on issues directly affecting their people and their lands; Treaty rights; to assist in reintroducing and preserving Anishinabek culture & language; or rally against Bill C-45, a Bill that amends 60+ laws, more specifically that remove the structures intended to protect waterways, the environment and opens the door for First Nations to lease land by majority vote of members at meetings (no quorum required). Idle No More emanates from an accumulation of all of these and more. Although Idle No More appears to be less noticeable, Chief Syrette says it is not over; since the 15th century Anishinabek people have resisted everything from European encroachment of Anishinabek land to taking their children to residential
schools. If there is no satisfactory resolution, these issues will re-emerge to haunt everyone. One thing for certain in moving forward, the Anishinabek Police Service will continue to stay on top of the Idle No More movement, paying particular attention to the transitions in dynamics and adjusting when and where necessary. CS w w w. a p s co p s . o rg
Ottawa Demonstration
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Šcopyright iStockphoto.com | AndrewJohnson
C.P.T.E.D.
(crime prevention through environmental design) is a proactive crime prevention strategy which may be defined as “the proper design and effective use of the built environment which can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement of the quality of life1”- National Crime Prevention Institute. C.P.T.E.D. principles aim to reduce opportunities, increase the likelihood of criminals being apprehended and minimize the benefits of crime. Using these principles, recommendations can be made to alter the built environment. Sharing recommendations with residents can empower them to implement changes to their homes and community in the effort to reduce crime and proactively mitigate future opportunities. Safe City Mississauga began incorporating C.PT.E.D audits within the Neighbourhood Watch Program in 2012 and as a result the number of Active Watches increased by 63%. C.P.T.E.D. is an attractive crime prevention method as it can be related and shared with the community in practical and easily implementable ways to encourage pro-social behaviour.2 Offering the audit as a key component of the Program enabled enhanced community mobilization by increased participation rates. Over a twelve month period, 25 neighbourhood C.P.T.E.D. audits were conducted. Common recommendations which anyone can easily implement include but are not limited to:
LIMITING OPPORTUNITIES / ACCESS CONTROL • Remove large decorative rocks from garden beds & bricks that can be picked up and thrown. In the crime prevention world they are known as “keys” for gaining access into homes.
1. Injury Centre: Violence Prevention. 2009. Youth Violence: Using Envioronmental Design to Prevent School Violence. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. 25 March 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/youthviolence/cpted.html 2. Criminal Justice Reform: Community Crime Prevention Guide. Promising and Effective Practices. 22 March 2013. http://www.criminaljusticereform.gov.bc.ca/en/what_you_can_do/effective_practices/index.html
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• Remove objects beside the house that can be used as a climbing device for easy access to window and door entries (ex. Ladders, stacked items) • Close garage doors even when working in the house or back yard; potential offenders can gain access to the home or valuables found in the garage
ESTABLISHING OWNERSHIP/ TERRITORIAL REINFORCEMENT
• Evidence of loitering is often found on pathways behind or leading to a street (glass, alcoholic bottles or cans, litter). Attention should be paid if you live close enough to witness behaviours which may be conducive to criminal behaviour
• Graffiti found within the community should be removed immediately (within 24-48 hours of tagging) to ensure that it doesn’t attract further vandalism or illegal activities.3 Removing it within this timeframe results in a limited occurrence rate and residents should be made aware of the various reporting methods
NATURAL SURVEILLANCE
Landscaping maintenance is a significant element of controlling crime. Thick shrubbery and trees placed in front of doors and windows creates areas of concealment and prevents natural surveillance from within the home. It can create an illusion that an offender cannot be seen and therefore their level of comfort for finding entry to the home is increased. Limb up shrubbery so that windows and doors are visible to and from the home. An example from the Peel Regional Police’s audit before and after recommendations which would exemplify similar results of NW recommendations if properly implemented can be seen in the following two photographs.4 3. Graffiti Hurts. 2013. What is the best way to prevent graffiti? 25 March 2013. http://www.graffitihurts.org/getfacts/faq.jsp 4.
Source: Graffiti Free City Calgary. 2013. Graffiti Removal. 22 March 2013. http://www.graffitifreecalgary.ca/graffiti-removal.php
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Peel Regional Police. 2012. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. 26 March2013. http://www.peelpolice.on.ca/en/ crimepreventcrimepreventionthroughenvironmentaldesign.asp
Source: Peel Regional Police. 2012. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. 26 March2013. http://www.peelpolice.on.ca/en/ • crimepreventcrimepreventionthroughenvironmentaldesign.asp
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING
Strategically Placed Crime Prevention Safe City Mississauga strives to accomplish innovative methods of delivering service to priority areas. Communities, which lack programming and have statistically higher crime rates are identified as priority and could particularly benefit from strategically placed crime prevention programming. To accomplish this, inter-agency evidence based work is an effective holistic approach to action planning. The approach must be sustainable and provide support for the community. NW offers inter-agency partnership between residents of Mississauga, Safe City Mississauga and Peel Regional Police.
EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
Nearby commercial space displayed factors, which may have been contributing to delinquent behaviours that were being displaced to a nearby complex.
Neighbourhood Improvement Initiatives Neighbourhood improvement initiatives often requires collaboration among various agencies such as City forestry, city planning, Councillors, bylaw, Corporate Security, Police agencies, community groups and not-for-profit organizations offering support services to fill gaps in service delivery. For one agency to attempt to provide every support service would be imprudent—agencies must work collaboratively to lend support based on their strengths.
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Safe City Mississauga worked with the mall manager to provide recommendations and a list of responsibilities to enhance safety and security on their property, following up to ensure they had been completed. Reporting increased as a result of awareness of various reporting avenues delivered at the NW setup meeting. The result was an 8.3% decrease in reported crime for that area in the first year of NW program inception.
Reporting Crime
According to the 2009 GSS Victimization Survey, only 31% of all incidents were reported to police in 2009. This number has dropped since 2004, where the proportion of all incidents
reported to the police was 34%.5 Frequently, residents simply do not know when it is appropriate to report, which may be a contributing factor to high under reporting rates. Reporting crime is an integral component to ensure C.P.T.E.D. principles are implemented in susceptible areas and residents should be aware of various agencies (online graffiti reporting forms, police lines (emergency & non emergency), parks watch, corporate security, and crime stoppers) to name a few. Knowing when and what to report in conjunction with implementing C.P.T.E.D. principles is proving to be a successful method of program effectiveness. CS C o n tac t S a f e C i t y M i s s i s s au g a
to r e c e i v e yo u r i n c i d e n t r e p o rt m ag n e t to h e l p yo u r e m e m b e r w h at to r e p o rt to P o l i c e .
INCIDENT REPORT
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Report crime online at www.peelpolice.ca Police Non-emergency:905-453-3311 Emergency:9-1-1
T e l : 905-615-4155 5. GSS Victimization Survey. 2009. Criminal Victimization in Canada, 2009. Statistics Canada. 26 March 2013. http://www. statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2010002/article/11340-eng.htm
Date: Incident Time: Information Location Of Incident: Type Of Crime
£ Theft from Vehicle £ Auto Theft £ Mischief £ Robbery
License Plate Number: Vehicle Model: Vehicle Colour: Vehicle Type:
Vehicle Information Suspect Information
£ Suspicious Activity £ Other £ Loitering £ Assault £ Break And Enter
£ Male £ Female £ Unknown Approximate Age:
Complexion
£ Fair £ Medium £ Olive £ Dark
£ Short £ Medium £ Long £ Curly £ Straight £ Bald £ Balding
Hairstyle
B r i t ta n y W a k e f i e l d , H o n s . BA
Height Weight
£ Tall £ Average £ Short
Tattoos
£ Yes £ No Description:
Facial Hair
£ Yes £ No Description:
Other Descriptors
Estimated Height:
• Ears Nose • Mouth/Lips • Scars/Marks
P r o g r a m C o o r d i n at o r a n d R e s e a r c h e r ; R e s i d e n t C r i m i n o l o g i s t at S a f e C i t y M i s s i s s a u g a C . P.T. E . D.
Build:
• Weapons/Tools • With Animal? • Clothing/Accessories s u p p o rt i n g o u r a dv e rt i s e r s s u p p o rt s c r i m e s e n s e
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In 2002, SP writes, “I had clinical depression, suicidal ideation, and possible homicide/suicide involving my girlfriend. Since I have been in prison, I have been taking Prozac which has lifted my mood a bit; but still Prozac is not the answer. My psychiatrist recommended that I see a Christian Psychotherapist. The therapy that you have offered to me, have changed my cognitive methods of doing things. I am a much happier person now and want to be like this all of my life. Thank you.� Sincerely, SP Note: SP was recommended to me from the Supreme Court. I also helped him get a job.
Break Free Family and Counselling Centre have been providing psychological, therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation for our community since 2003. We are a registered charitable organization founded by Patricia Keith, Ph.D., Our organization provides housing assistance, counselling, related therapeutic and supportive services for at risk youth and young adults. Break Free Family Centre also provide services such as Adolescent Counselling, Addictions Counselling, Individual and Couple Therapy, Family Therapy, Pre-Marriage and Marriage Counselling, Assessment, Anger Management, Crisis Intervention Counselling, Brief Counselling, Telephone Counselling and Therapy Group Sessions. Our mandate is to provide the highest standard of care and counselling regardless of religious belief, ethnic background, or race. Our goal is to teach and counsel at risk youth how to break the vicious cycle of recidivism, addiction and aggression that directly or indirectly contributes to their self-destructive behaviour. We provide housing assistance, individual and group counselling, life skills and job development incentives. I am Patricia Keith, Ph.D., a trained professional counsellor. I hold credentials in America and in Canada with the EOCPCA and regulated member Federal Government Charter 1982 (C.P.C.) with all rights and privileges as such membership confers and the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counselors, Psychotherapists and Psychometrics (OACCPP). I specialized in Substance Abuse, Gambling Issues, Stress, Anger Management and Marriage Counselling. I counsel for the Anger Management Counselling Practice and the Break Free Family Centre. Respectfully,
Patricia Keith, Ph.D., ED
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AM wrote, I was arrested and charged in 2005 by the police and even lost my Job as a taxi driver. At the end of my trial I was sent to get anger management counselling. With much help, I have received the well-needed counselling. My life is changed and I am no more of the Muslim faith. I am a Christian because I wanted to know the God you serve Miss Keith. You have helped me to believe in myself and to forgive others. Thank you Miss Keith. AM Note: AM has started over from the set back of the pit situation. He asked to know my God. He is well, and is now a Christian young man.
MC said, “My entire family suffers from depression, because of generational curses that have haunted us so much. My grandfather sexually abused my mother. My father had an addiction. I became depressed at a young age because of an abusive situation. The Canadian Children’s Aid Society took my children, because of the depression I have encountered at the age of 14. Because of you, Pastor Pat, my family and I have found hope for the hopeless situation we have experienced. Thanks for the support in counselling, and therapy. We are grateful for your help and my children will be coming home soon. MC Note: MC has overcome depression; she has done very well with therapy. She went back to school and is awaiting the return of her children.
A year ago, I interviewed a nineteen year old young man. When I met him, I shook his hand, called him by his name, and said, “Yes Sir.” He was astonished that someone had shaken his hand, and called him by his name. First, he told me he was a demon, living under a bridge for several years. He gambled all that he had and turned to drugs hoping it would heal his pain. He stated that there was no hope for him and that he was a demon-possessed person. After reassuring the young man that he was not a demon, I assured him that God loved him the way he was, and also that there was hope for him. He then repented and asked God to forgive him for robbing others. He changed his perception, hopefully changed his lifestyle of a problem gambler, a drug addict and dealer. So, you see there is hope for you when you decide to change. Another young person said, “I attended your workshop; I have found it to be absolutely the best workshop I have ever attended. I am an addict. When I heard the testimony of the withdrawal counselor Keith Ledger and the young man who had been an addict for more than 20 years, I truly believed there was hope for me. I just wish I had attended one of your workshops a year ago. Thank you for the therapy of the Emotional Freedom Technique. I have no more cravings for drugs. With continued therapy and counselling, I know, I must regain the years I have lost being an addict. When you speak positive words to your mind you will exhibit change. Yours Truly, CJ Note: CJ has been getting Therapy and Counselling for the past 4 months, and has not used drugs since.
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Dear Break Free Family Center; RF writes, “I would like to thank you for visiting and counselling me while I was in prison. I am sorry for the people that I have robbed, and the drugs that I have taken in my body. With the therapy I have received from you I am doing great. I hope to live a clean and normal life without being addicted to drugs.” RF Note: RF is out of prison and is no longer taking drugs. He is working fulltime and is attending a trade school.
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