EDITOR:
Time for our (Summerside) Chief of Police David Poirier and city council to advise residents what our present situation is relating to what type of illegal drugs are being trafficked in our city, and among our youth. I served with our Police Services for forty years. When I retired in 2011, the drug situation was bad, and has increased not only in quantity but also the types of drugs. In Summerside one can buy cannabis, cocaine, meth, heroin and unfortunately fentanyl, or drugs laced with fentanyl. This increased opioid crisis has hit many communities and is devastating to many, many cases ending in death, by overdose. Summerside Police Services last year dealt with two cases involving two separate incidents, where overdoses occurred, and police had to use the antidote Narcan to revive these people. This tells me that all residents, parents and teachers should be made aware of just what Police Services and addictions is dealing with. I am only talking about the City of Summerside, other areas have their own concerns. Does Summerside have officers going to the schools and other community groups talking about this issue? Our chief of police had been extremely quiet on the subject, I question why. City council has not spoken openly about this crisis – from any council meetings I have seen. Time to talk about this. I see first-hand on a weekly basis the devastation caused by addictions among our youth. I am passionate about our youth and this city. Hopefully, this will bring change and awareness to this serious crisis in our city.
David Griffin,
Summerside
