Hardcore drugs are no longer just a big city problem.

Crack, cocaine, oxycontin, ecstasy and crystal meth are being sold and used in the Georgian Triangle.

Det-Sgt., Mark Dennis is the commander of the Huronia Combined Forces Drug Unit, a group of police detachments and agencies that investigate drug crime in the area.

"It's not a little bit of marijuana and hash anymore. It's cheap and readily available," he said.

Dennis, a 22-year police veteran, took over the unit in January and is in his third stint in drug enforcement. He started in drug enforcement in London in 1989 and says things have changed since then.

When he first started, marijuana and hash were the most popular drugs. Since his arrival in January, his unit hasn't busted a marijuana grow-op, but has seized large amounts of cocaine and crack.

"I'm starting to see a pattern and that seems to be a drug of choice," he said.

Dennis said cocaine is becoming a lot cheaper and a lot stronger. He said a lot of the cocaine he used to seize was about 30-per-cent pure cocaine, with the rest of the mixture being made up of baking powder or a white digestive product.

Now, the cocaine on the streets is generally about 80-85-per-cent pure cocaine.

He said the drug is also being sold for between $1,400-$1,800 an ounce, which is down from about $2,000-$2,500 an ounce about 10 years ago.

"It's a saturation of the market," he said.

Dennis said another drug being used and sold today is oxycodone, also called oxycontin, a pain medicine that is illegal if it is not prescribed by a doctor.

He says the street name for the drug is "hillbilly heroin," as it is very addictive.

Dennis said the one of the ways to kick the drug is to enter a methadone clinic, the same clinic that heroin addicts attend.

In order to get the drug, Dennis said people are stealing paper from a doctor's office and forging prescriptions or breaking into pharmacies.

"We will target them and go after them," he said.

He said the drug is usually sold in 10-80 mg tablets, with the latter being sold for more than $50 per tablet.
The 80-mg tablet is typically given to cancer patients, he said.

"It (a 10-mg tablet) can knock you or (me) on our rear end."

Dennis said the most dangerous drug, largely because of how it's made, is methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth.

Dennis said the drug is made by mixing different chemicals and says anyone can make it.

"You can go on the internet and do it," he said.

The drug is either smoked or injected, but usually injected. He said it can not only do damage to someone's body, but also the place where it's being made. He said because of the chemicals, if they aren't mixed properly, explosions can occur.

"They are very volatile drugs," he said.

Dennis said he has two experts in dismantling crystal meth labs on his team. They assist other detachments across the province. He said when a meth lab is taken down, officers must wear special equipment and must be decontaminated afterwards.

Dennis wouldn't reveal all of his trade secrets, but says his unit works with others in the province in an effort to seek out drug dealers and users.  

He said Collingwood is no different than any other small community in the province. He said there are people from teenagers to seniors buying, selling and using drugs.

"We have individuals in this town who we know are drug traffickers," he said.

Dennis said the problem his unit faces involves those who are coming to the area from the larger cities, selling drugs and leaving.

"They are the unknown," he said.

Dennis said public awareness is important and says his team gets a lot of tips from residents and Crime Stoppers.

He also encourages parents to talk to their kids about drugs and what is being used by their classmates.

Dennis said he doesn't care how big or small the bust is, he said he told his officers to get the drugs off the street.

"I believe in drug enforcement. I believe we do make an impact," he said. "I will take the streets back one gram at a time."