Hard drug use rising in CBN: Mounties

The use of hard drugs in Newfoundland's Conception Bay North is on the rise, according to RCMP in the region.

Cpl. Dale Foote said Friday drug seizures in CBN are increasing as users move from marijuana to harder substances.

"We have noticed that there are all sorts of seizures of different types of drugs and we are noticing that quite frequently that there's cocaine and prescription pills," Foote told CBC News.

"Information we're receiving, whether from sources or whether it be by Crime Stoppers tips, are indicating that there's an incline in the selling of prescription drugs and what not in our area."

In the meantime,the amount of marijuana use in the area has decreased over the past year.

"If that's not the drug of choice anymore then they're gonna turn to find some other things," said Foote, adding that, as in St. John's, prescription drugs, ecstasy and cocaine have become the drugs of choice.

Recently, two men were arrested with a large quantity of ecstasy pills near the mall in Carbonear. Police also seized a dagger and a piece of lumber with 28 nails sticking out of one end.

The case isbefore provincial court.