Drug Addiction in Calgary, Alberta

Edmonton and Calgary are constantly trying to outdo each other in everything. It’s always been quite the rivalry.  When it comes to alcohol and drug addiction finding a clear winner between the two of them becomes a bit harder. There is a shadow over Calgary just like there is over Edmonton and its growing just like everywhere else. These drug addiction issues facing almost all North American cities are claiming the lives of its citizens at an alarming rate. The youth of these cities are not uncommonly the main abusers. This makes the schools and the streets a major place for concern. While alcohol and marijuana are still in the forefront there are many drugs in the background and they are coming up fast.

Just recently to give some indication of the drug trade in Calgary, police raided three separate places for drugs in a single sweeping sting.  Eight people are now facing 40 charges as a result of this sting. The first place yielded 35 ounces of marijuana and almost $47,000 in Canadian currency. The second place held almost 540 grams of powder cocaine, 324 grams of crack cocaine, 113 grams of marijuana and $2,600 in Canadian currency. The third place had simply $32,000 in Canadian currency.

The Calgary police website has documented a number of pharmacy robberies of late. The robbers in each case were looking for primarily Oxycontin, this often due to drug addiction. The robberies of drug stores for Oxycontin are growing not only in Calgary but in all the provinces. The street value of Oxycontin is as such that it can command at times a 400% profit over market value. Prescription drug addiction is growing, not only are drug stores being robbed, but seniors are at risk as the thieves looking for prescription drugs know that the seniors on a whole usually are on any number of medications. The seniors then become an easy target for the dealers looking for an easy score.

^{References: http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2010/08/19/15080331.html
http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgary/news.aspx?q=&s=datedesc&pg=2}