Inuvik (Nov 12/04) - The subject of crack cocaine was enough to attract a standing room only crowd to Ingamo Hall last Wednesday evening.

More than 150 packed the hall to hear from concerned community members about the latest drug to make headway in Inuvik.

This is you; this is you after three years on crack. A scary poster illustrating the dangers of crack cocaine greeted people who came out to the community meeting about crack cocaine in Inuvik. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

Christine Firth, who organized the meeting, said everyone was affected by the cheap, yet highly addictive, narcotic.

"We have to take a stand," she said. "You may think you aren't affected, but you are affected by this. Everyone in the community is."

Firth's appeal was followed by Inuvik Regional Hospital medical director Dr. Braam De Klerk, who spoke of the drug's dangers.

De Klerk said crack's relatively low cost, matched with its highly addictive nature, makes the drug especially insidious.

"Use it once and you can become addicted and then you need it more and more," he said.

He pointed out that 10 per cent of high school students in the United States are reportedly using crack.

Derived from cocaine, crack is made by heating cocaine in a baking soda solution until the liquid evaporates. The result is a highly potent and smokable form of cocaine that crackles when heated, hence its name.

As other community members took the floor to speak of their concerns and offer ideas on how to combat the problem, the issue of re-establishing an alcohol and drug treatment centre in Inuvik -- similar to the Delta House that closed in 1999 -- was highlighted.

One person suggested that having police drug dogs at the airport and at checkpoints along the highway into town would also help stem the flow of crack and other narcotics into the community.

Bigger picture

While acknowledging police were aware that crack was in the community and efforts were being taken to deal with the situation, Inuvik RCMP Staff Sgt. Sid Gray, implored those assembled to look at the bigger picture.

"Yes, crack is bad, but you've got to deal with the liquor abuse," said Gray, who attended the meeting with Cpl. Merle Carpenter.

"Until you start with that, then you are just going to be chasing your tails."

To back up his claims, Gray noted that of more than 1,600 people taken into RCMP custody since the beginning of the year, in excess of 70 per cent of the instances were alcohol-related.

Gray said approximately 20 of the cases were linked to chemical drug dependency.

When pressed by some in the crowd for what the police were doing to bust crack dealers, Gray said he would not give out "trade secrets" in a public forum.

He did say the RCMP could use the public's help.

"Tell us what you know," he said.

Gray also frowned on the "vigilante tone" of a few comments that hinted community members would take matters into their own hands if the police could not do the job.

"I'm concerned about vigilantism and I don't like to hear that," said Gray.

"Whether we like it or not, crack dealers have their rights, too, and we must work within the law."

On the streets of Yellowknife, a gram of crack cocaine goes for $120 and "hits" -- a smaller amount that makes for several doses worth of the drug -- cost between $20 and $25.

In Inuvik, an eightball -- 3.5 grams -- of cocaine is worth $400.