I know most big cities in most countries have issues with drugs and antisocial behaviour so I'm not trying to be inflamatory I'm just a feeling a bit niggly over some of the things I'm reading/seeing around the Maritimes.

Is it a big issue in the East? Can it be avoided? Just a bit concerned about having a young child growing up around high drug useage.

Speaking for this part of NB - Weed yes, other drugs not so much, anti social behaviour none at all.

Generally people on weed are not anti social.

Agree with Tangram.

There are a handful of places (methadone clinic, day centre, hostel etc) around that one would normally associate with a "problem" but you would never know of their existence because the usual indicators - are just not present.

why?

I think there is a problem in poorer (read: rural) towns with crystal meth and prescription pill abuse which they break down and inject, Its called hillbilly heroin. I agree with the weed assessment, its everywhere, not just on the east coast.

Guess it depends on your definition of "anti social"

Fighting in the street, vomiting outside pubs, vandalism, noise late at night etc.

Give your kids some eccies or something; they'll be extremely sociable. Won't be able to stop talking. Time of their life as well.

Cos one is moving for the kids! Obviously!! Pfft you so silly exKiwilass

I've never been there, but from what I've seen in the news, (and it was news for awhile), it was coincidental that the big oxycontin scare started in the maritimes. The law was just on the verge of making it an outlawed drug, the pharmacies weren't quite up to speed on double doctoring yet, and some of the social indicators for poverty related crimes were there. They changed the drug to make it less addictive, and the problem has some attention now, so it's probably like everywhere else.

I don't know where you are presently living, or the age of your child, but my kid was 11 when we moved to the Maritimes 6 months ago. I moved from an idylic picture post card village in France with a pretty big drug problem, that was pushed beneath the surface or ignored. I have moved to Fredericton, and my son has moved to 6th grade, it isn't Never Neverland, but kids are talking about drugs, and seem to be as responsible as any kids of their age are. I 'try' to provide a solid loving family structure, and a platform for conversation...I don't imagine that one could ever do more?....(any brighter ideas gleefully accepted).

How could one possibly avoid it? I grew up at a time when I believe Cocaine was at an all time bargain basement price, but it didn't have a lasting effect on my life, and it was at lots of parties when I was in my young teens...and NO, my parents had no idea. It isn't the where you are moving to surely, but the security and ability to discuss matters openly that will be more important to your child's future.

If that isn't the case, I'm doomed already Don't most parent just try to do their very best

Are you sure they had no idea ?? As a parent of teens ... I have a pretty good knowledge of what stuff is around and what is being used ... It's better to be aware ... But I don't use it all against them, so to speak ... Some
Stuff you have to let slide so as to be able to tackle the real problems (if there are any- which hopefully there won't!!)

So only law breaking you can see or hear?

Bankers would be pleased to have you in charge

According to Health Canada, through CADUMS, Canadian Alcohol & Drug Use Monitoring Survey, Drug use has declined marginally over the past several years. That's not to say there is not a problem, there is. However, as it pertains to the east coast I don't think it is any worse than the rest of Canada. In NS we do have abuse problems caused by opoids like oxycontin etc. It has been reformulated to make it more difficult to mainstream, but, it hasn't cured the problem.
Most of the drug use seems to be amongst young adults. Poverty and lack of jobs seem to be the catalyst.
As for alcohol, parts of Halifax on a Saturday night can be a war zone. A combination of students and locals not being able to hold their liquor. But, hey, what's new about that.

Well if you don't see or hear it, there's no negative experience for you so it's not really anti-social.

Other examples of law breaking are not really anti-social in the usual sense of the expression. To describe more serious crime as anti-social would be to trivialise it.