Pubdate: Fri, 21 Apr 2006
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Frances Bula
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?131 (Heroin Maintenance)

PROVIDE DRUGS TO ADDICTS, MAYOR SAYS

Mayor Sam Sullivan Wants The Eastside Cleaned Up By 2010 Games

Mayor Sam Sullivan says he's willing to risk his political career to 
bring in a program to provide drugs or drug substitutes for addicts 
in an effort to protect victimized women in the Downtown Eastside and 
deal with Vancouver's social-disorder problems by the 2010 Olympics.

And his goal could be a reality sooner than some had imagined.

In a lengthy interview about his plans for drug-addiction strategies, 
Sullivan confirmed that an anonymous individual who has been in 
contact with his office has offered $500,000 to fund some kind of 
innovative harm-reduction program in the city. Sullivan had already 
been consulting with experts and community groups to explore ways of 
initiating a drug-maintenance program.

However, he stressed that there is no specific project that's been 
defined and that it wouldn't be something the city would operate.

"I want any project [that does go forward] to be not dreamed up by 
the mayor or any citizen that doesn't have a lot of expertise," he said.

"The reality is that the city is not going to conduct any program 
that is health-related."

The mayor did not want to identify the anonymous donor and stressed 
that he has only heard about the offer from a third party.

But Sullivan, who has been talking to numerous groups and individuals 
about his desire to see a maintenance program for addicts that would 
supply them with heroin or cocaine, said he is "very heartened that 
there is this kind of interest."

He emphasized, as he has many times before, that he would like to see 
something done especially for the Vancouver women who take up street 
prostitution to support their drug habits.

"I'll do whatever I can to get to a situation where we've done 
something important for these women," he said.

He also said his goal is make a significant dent in the city's drug 
problem before the Olympics.

"By 2010, I want the public disorder and crime seriously reduced."

But he also made it clear that he thinks the emphasis should be on 
one pillar in particular of the four-pillar drug strategy that 
Vancouver introduced five years ago: harm reduction.

"I believe where we haven't put real energy is in the more 
interesting harm-reduction efforts that have proven to work," he said.

While Sullivan didn't dismiss the other pillars (enforcement, 
treatment and prevention), saying they are all necessary, he said 
that he doesn't believe police and treatment need to be the 
priorities right now.

"I would say I have seen enforcement well funded. At least three 
times during my time on council, we have sent the police in to clean 
up for once and for all," he said.

Sullivan said he doesn't claim to know everything about treatment, 
but he hasn't seen overwhelming evidence yet that it makes 
significant inroads in addiction.

"I've looked at mandatory treatment in the United States and still 
seen open drug use there."

He has also observed that when he has gone to treatment centres to 
get help for acquaintances or family members there hasn't been a 
problem getting beds.

Sullivan admits that he may run into political difficulties on this 
and that many people, including some of his own civic party members, 
aren't with him on it.

Asked if he's willing to sacrifice his political career to bring 
about a drug-maintenance program, Sullivan answered quietly, "Yes."

He explained that he is willing to do that because drug addiction is 
such a terrible blight on the city and that it is wreaking such havoc 
with people's lives.

He also acknowledges that drug addiction is an emotional issue for 
him, because he sees such a strong parallel between addiction and 
disability: Sullivan has been a quadriplegic since he was injured in 
a ski accident at 19.

But he also worried that his attempts to move too fast could cause 
political damage to his party, the Non Partisan Association.

"I always have to realize that this is not just me."

Sullivan said he's perhaps not as politically astute as former mayor 
Philip Owen, who brought in the four-pillars policy.

But the NPA has already gone through one drug-induced fissure in 
spite of Owen's astuteness, after Owen and his party split in part 
over their differences over his drug policy.

The NPA was then soundly trounced in the following 2002 election.

Sullivan said he recognizes he needs to let people catch up to him.

He even admitted that city staff are not on side.

"They're very polite" when he presents his ideas, he said.

But he's determined to be as aggressive as he can be.

"I want to be responsible about it. But I feel frustrated and 
impatient. And one of the things in my life is that I have a bias 
towards action."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom