Pubdate: Fri, 16 Oct 2009
Source: Comox Valley Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Comox Valley Record
Contact:  http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/784
Author: Lindsay Chung

PIPES NO SUBSTITUTE FOR TREATMENT

When it comes to drug addiction, supporting harm reduction programs 
does not preclude supporting treatment.

That is the message Courtenay council would like to send to the 
provincial government.

Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard proposed Tuesday that council write to the 
provincial government to support more funding for drug addiction 
treatment and express council's opinion that the harm reduction 
program is not in lieu of treatment.

Last month, council heard about a crack cocaine pipe education and 
harm reduction program from the Vancouver Island Health Authority 
(VIHA) and AIDS Vancouver Island and voted to write to VIHA 
supporting the expansion of the program to include the distribution 
of safe mouthpieces and pushsticks.

Following the presentation, Leonard received some communication 
suggesting there were misinterpretations in the community about why 
council was supporting the program and about council's 
responsibility, she noted.

"I thought this was a good opportunity in view of some of the things 
I was hearing that we could certainly clarify to senior government 
that by approving the distribution of the mouthpieces that we were 
not suggesting in any way that was in lieu of treatment," she said.

Council voted, not unanimously, to send a letter.

Coun. Jon Ambler, who voted against sending the letter, was concerned 
whether this issue falls within council's power.

"I'm kind of on the horns of dilemma on this on whether we are 
actually doing any good here," he said. "It's a good debate, but I'm 
not sure this actually falls within our remit."

Coun. Manno Theos did not support sending the letter either. He felt 
Leonard's motion was too vague, as it did not specify what the 
treatment would be and about which drugs they were speaking.

"I feel Coun. Leonard is coming with the right heart; my concern 
would be it appears to be a bit vague," he said. "I really don't know 
exactly what that would mean. There are so many different drug 
addiction treatments."

The resolution is meant to articulate the need to deal with the issue 
of harm reduction, noted Leonard.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart