Drug Addiction in Newfoundland

The population in Newfoundland is about half a million people. The number of those that abstain from all alcohol use is only ten percent. Newfoundland has one of the highest rates of alcohol and drug addiction than anywhere else in Canada. More then thirteen percent of those who live in this province are struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism or both. These numbers work out to approximately two hundred thousand people at any one time are addicted to something. Police report that the number one cause of all domestic abuse cases in Newfoundland can be linked back to alcoholism and/or drug addiction.

Newfoundland also has organized crime that can be linked back to drugs. Although the Hells Angels do not keep a permanent home inside of Newfoundland, they do have activity there. A recent drug bust by the Newfoundland police, working in tandem with the Quebec police, lead to thirteen arrests in Newfoundland.  It also lead to the seizure of nineteen pounds of cocaine, over fifty pounds of marijuana, six cars and three hundred thousand dollars in cash. Homes, weapons and computers were also taken.

Police seized 51 pounds of marijuana, 19 pounds of cocaine, $300,000 in cash, six motor vehicles, weapons and laptop computers. This much drugs and drug activity is not found where there is no market for it. The market could very well be Newfoundland’s youth, with just over a third of all high school students reporting use of some sort of street drug. The favorite with the youth of Newfoundland is marijuana and ecstasy mixed with some sort of alcohol. It is usually consumed at a party where about twenty percent of teens report driving less than an hour later.

Obviously Newfoundland has a drug addiction problem, and with only one drug addiction treatment center available provincially it does not look like the problem will be getting better any time soon.

^{References: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=97bf565a-8cfd-49b8-90f9-abb9de4549ff&k=83240
http://www.sobriety.ca/drug-rehab-newfoundland-labrador.htm}