Pubdate: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC) Copyright: 2008, BC Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948 Author: Jenn Marshall DRUG ISSUES KEEP POLICE, RESOURCE PROVIDERS BUSY Nanaimo's police force devotes a significant amount of time, resources and money to tackling the city's drug issues. Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said police are kept busy dealing with issues that arise from the use and trade of legal and illegal drugs, as well as the related homelessness, addiction and petty crime issues. "A significant amount of our time is dealing with drug issues," he said. O'Brien said Mounties have identified three main drug markets in the Harbour City. There is the downtown open-air market, dominated by crack cocaine and heroin; crack shacks and drug houses peppered throughout the city, where users can pick up an assortment of drugs; and the bar scene, where drugs like ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana are commonly obtained. O'Brien said this year, police have formed a partnership with downtown business and bar owners, enabling police to have a better handle on what is happening in the area. But staying on top of the activities of drug dealers is difficult. "It's the flavour of the month," said O'Brien. "That's the struggle of police work, trying to stay abreast or one step ahead." Marijuana grow operations continue to be a major problem in Nanaimo, he added, and police estimate that there are between 50 to 100 grow ops in the city at any given time. O'Brien said as long as there is a market for illicit drugs, there will be a supply. While police are charged with enforcing the laws, it is also important to address the homelessness and addiction issues. Nanaimo has a range of services to help addicts in the community. Marg Fraser, Vancouver Island Health Authority's manager of mental health and addiction services, said the health authority has a street outreach team consisting of two nurses with a caseload of between 200 and 300 people. The service is to expand from five to seven days a week in the coming months. "Alcohol and marijuana are very commonly used, but I think among the street population, we're seeing crack cocaine," she said. Fraser said VIHA also provides 14 medical detoxification beds through a contract with Clearview Detoxification Clinic, a drug and alcohol outpatient counselling service, 10 short-term crisis beds in a supported living house and a contract with NARSF Programs Ltd. to provide a needle exchange service downtown. There are also 160 new units of supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to come, part of a recent provincial announcement. "That is going to be huge in terms of people being more successful in dealing with serious addiction issues," she said. "You can't just put a roof over people's heads and hope they get sober, they need 24-hour support." Fraser said those units - a mix of supported, low-barrier and no-barrier housing - will be a first for the city. Other groups, such as the Salvation Army, Haven Society and John Howard Society, provide transitional supportive housing, but long-term, low-barrier housing is currently non-existent, she added. VIHA also provides addiction resources specifically for youth. Gord Cote, director of NARSF Programs, said the company is in the process of re-establishing six community beds for youth with addiction issues, after taking over the contract earlier this fall. Youth and family counselling, community outreach and addiction counselling in schools is provided directly through VIHA. Carrie Morris, program coordinator for Discovery Youth and Family Addiction Services, said counsellors are helping about 60 youth and families through this service. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin