Pubdate: Fri, 21 Oct 2005
Source: East York Mirror (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 East York Mirror
Contact:  http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/easty/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2219
Author: David Nickle

DRUG STRATEGY INCLUDES CRACK PIPES AND SAFE SITES

A new city drug strategy that manages drug use according to "harm 
reduction" strategies was unveiled by health and city officials at 
Toronto City Hall last Friday.

The strategy's 66 recommendations include the prospect of 
establishing safe injection sites, handing out pipes to crack cocaine 
addicts and offering council's support of a move to decriminalize the 
possession of small amounts of marijuana.

But it also covers a range of areas beyond that including emphasizing 
drug abuse prevention programs in schools and looking at strategies 
for getting rid of marijuana grow houses.

Drug-Using Society

According to Toronto's Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown, 
the strategy's recommendations, which have yet to be adopted by 
Toronto Council, are based on a simple premise:

"We know we are a drug-using society - it is a historical fact," he said.

"Through the centuries people from all socioeconomic backgrounds have 
used alcohol and other drugs, and there's no reason to think that 
drug use is going to disappear."

McKeown, who was joined by Ward 27 Councillor Kyle Rae (Toronto 
Centre-Rosedale) and others who had worked on the report, said that 
while some drug use, such as moderate consumption of alcohol, is 
relatively harmless and acceptable, "some use causes significant harm".

"In the past, our response to substance abuse has focused on 
enforcement...but we must do more on prevention and harm reduction," he said.

Toward that end, the report focuses on two of the most pernicious 
drugs used and abused by Torontonians - alcohol and crack cocaine.

In particular, the report has controversial recommendations for 
reaching out to crack cocaine users who currently are not in contact 
with health workers.

The report recommends looking at creating safe use sites - similar to 
the safe injection site in Vancouver - and supplying drug 
paraphernalia to crack cocaine users.

Police Opposed

The harm reduction ideas in the report are not finding much support 
with Toronto Police, however.

Police Chief Bill Blair said he opposed not only the call to 
decriminalize marijuana possession, but particularly the idea of 
handing out crack pipes to drug users.

Blair said that he supported a drug strategy that looked toward 
eliminating the addiction rather than managing it.

"I think our role should be towards helping substance abusers become 
drug free," he said.

"We should not only address the harm by users but the harm inflicted 
on communities by drug traffickers."

However, Frank Coburn, an admitted former crack addict who helped put 
together the report, said harm reduction can be a lifesaver.

"The harm interventions kept me alive," said Coburn, who said he 
spent 10 years on the street addicted to crack.

"To this day, despite all of the things I have done, I haven't 
contracted Hepatitis C or B, I haven't contracted HIV. I've stayed 
healthy, stayed alive and was able to look at things from a different 
perspective then went to the Donwood Institute for three weeks and 
now I don't use."