Pubdate: Sun, 27 Apr 2003
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Darshan Lindsay

CITY A HUB FOR DRUGS

Kamloops is a Hub For the Interior When It Comes to Illicit Drug Use

Grace House, a worker with the SHOP (Social and Health Opportunities for 
People in the Sex Trade) program, told those gathered at a community forum 
Thursday that Kamloops sees an ongoing in-and-out of street- and 
drug-entrenched transients. They come from Vernon and Prince George, make 
their way to Vancouver, and go back and forth.

"Right now we have an influx of cocaine use."

The forum followed the second screening of the documentary film Fix: The 
Story of An Addicted City at the Paramount Theatre in Kamloops, which drew 
close to 500 people. The film follows the struggle for a safe injection 
site for Vancouver's Eastside during an 18-month period. While there is 
space now set aside, federal dollars and federal approval still have to 
come for it to open.

Those involved in a panel at Thursday's screening were asked why there is a 
wait in Canada when some European countries moved ahead with safe injection 
sites more than a decade ago?

"They're not neighbours with the United States that has a huge war on 
drugs," said outreach worker Ken Salter, speaking of how politically risky 
a decision toward drug reform could potentially be for Canada.

A Vancouver street worker noted even in those jurisdictions, it didn't just 
happen, but was a long, arduous process.
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