Saskatoon police officer spearheads new drug education initiative

Const. Matt Ingrouille is not going to tell a teenager not to do drugs,after spending five years working in the Saskatoon police drug section.

Next week, he'll be hosting a drug education seminar at the police station. It's one of two sessions focused on education and then strategy.

"At no point am I going to mention the legality or the morality of drugs because, really, it's completely irrelevant to my mind," Ingrouille said.

"What is 100 per cent relevant is how can we empower people to start making healthier decisions."

Ingrouille won't lecture teens not to take drugs. He's hoping after hearing the speakers and getting the facts, they'll make the right choice on their own.

Half the picture

Ingrouille said thatfor too long, law enforcement agencies have concentrated on attacking the supply side of illicit drugs. He said that, while it's important to go after drug dealers and trafficking rings, it's only half the picture.

Any Grade 9student is two phone calls away from any drug that you could possibly think of.- Const. Matt Ingrouille

He believes that educating kids the demand side of the equation needs more attention. That means more than just trying to scare kids straight.

"No young kid who has never seen drugs before or just smokes marijuana on the weekends with his friend is going to look at that slide with the 10 years of meth images that we've all seen and their teeth are all missing and relate to that person because it's so far-fetched from their day-to-day life that how can they connect?" he questioned.

A phone call away

Next Wednesday,Ingrouille will be joined by a reformed drug dealer and a Colombian immigrant onstage at the police station.

They will have storieswith powerful messages.

Ingrouille will give parents and teens an unvarnished portrait of the drug scene in the city.

"Any Grade 9 student is two phone calls away from any drug that you could possibly think of," he said.

"It's that prevalent in high schools today."

The second session, on Dec.9, is all about offering practical strategies for parents of kids who may be using.

A team of addictions counsellors will be joining him.

Ingrouille plans on taking the seminars on the road around Saskatchewanto six other centres.