Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jun 2008
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 The Windsor Star
Contact: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Dalson Chen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

CITY BEGINS DRUG FIGHT

Council United In Support Of Anti-Substance Abuse Plan

The Windsor area has taken its first steps in a fight against the 
devastating effects of drugs in our region, say the authors of a new 
framework document aimed at preventing and reducing substance abuse.

"We've come together and said, 'Yes, there's a problem. Yes, here's 
how we should work together,'" said Sheila Wisdom, executive director 
of The United Way.

Wisdom was one of several delegates who spoke to city council Monday 
about the framework, which was more than a year in the making.

Unanimously supported by council, the document will lead to the 
creation of an implementation committee. Wisdom said that once the 
strategy is developed, the community can get better access to 
provincial and federal funding.

Ward 2 Coun. Ron Jones noted the connection between drugs and crime. 
"We have a gang problem, and we have a gun problem," he told the 
mayor. "And, Your Worship, behind the gangs and the guns, you have drugs."

However, the document didn't pass without controversy. Two of the 
delegates who attended voiced opposition to the mention of "harm 
reduction" as one of the pillars of a future drug strategy.

Sophia Martin, a recovered addict and now an advocate for those 
dealing with drug problems, worried that "harm reduction" might 
include things like the handing out of "crack kits" -- drug 
paraphernalia issued to encourage safer practices among addicts.

"We realize it's not written on paper," Martin said, "(But) handing 
out crack kits would not preserve the community's quality of life.... 
It will definitely support illicit drug activity and destroy our 
children's future."

COUNSELLOR WARY

Rob Cheshire, a volunteer chemical dependency counsellor, warned 
against "harm reduction" practices he described as "experimentation," 
and pointed to the failings of the safe injection site in Vancouver.

"I believe that such a scenario (in Windsor) would be 
counterproductive, with the distinct possibility of loss of life," 
Cheshire said.

Ward 1 Coun. Drew Dilkens said he's visited Vancouver and he's 
"absolutely paranoid" about its "harm reduction" practices coming to Windsor.

But Wisdom noted that "harm reduction" has yet to be defined in a 
local strategy, and there remains much to discuss.

"This is a wicked, messy problem, and there's not a simple solution 
to it.... We're at the starting point of this conversation, not at 
the end of it."

Windsor police Deputy Chief Jerome Brannagan said he supports the document.

"The phrase 'harm reduction' is all over the place. I would offer a 
suggestion -- that when people talk about 'harm reduction,' they look 
at it as a philosophy on different issues as opposed to a single way 
of reducing this problem," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom