Pubdate: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 Source: Comox Valley Record Copyright: 1999 Comox Valley Record Fax: 250-338-5568 Author: Karen Kwan, Record Staff Writer LEGALIZE DOPE, SAYS MAYORALTY HOPEFUL During a week set aside to promote province-wide awareness about drugs, Courtenay mayoralty candidate Bob Melnuk is suggesting legalizing banned substances - including "hard" drugs such as heroin and cocaine. The proposal has upset some community groups. During an election debate held at the Coast Westerly Motel Monday night, Melnuk told the audience that 85 per cent of criminal acts have as their root cause alcohol or drugs. "We're not dealing with the problem," he said. "Maybe we need to look at legalizing drugs," Melnuk said, responding to a question about how to deal with drugs and crime in the community. The remark didn't elicit much obvious reaction, but someone in the crowd snickered. He replied: "You laugh but Switzerland has tried it." Later, Melnuk confirmed he was serious about his proposal. "All I'm saying is we should sit down as a community and look at the whole issue, and look at new ways of dealing with (drugs)," he said. Since a certain percentage of people are predisposed to addiction - whether to gambling, alcohol or drugs - and will became addicts, he said it's better to control the situation through legalization. Switzerland has successfully set up clinics, staffed by health workers, where addicts can get their fix legally, he pointed out. This way, addicts would receive a safe dose of drugs, without risking disease from dirty needles. Crime and policing costs would be reduced as addicts would no longer have to feed their habits by stealing, prostitution and other crimes, he said. "Switzerland is dealing with the drug problem in a human and caring way," Melnuk said. He said a documentary on Swiss legalization shows how the method works, with addicts still able to maintain jobs, merely breaking for a quick trip to the drug clinic. "It's like a coffee break. There's no worry about people carrying knives and guns." Counselling is also offered to addicts when they get their fix to get at the root cause of the addiction, he added. Decriminalizing drugs would also reduce health care costs, Melnuk said, as 50 per cent of hospital admissions result from substance abuse. Would legalization increase drug use among kids? Young kids already know how to access drugs in the community, he said, so legalization wouldn't necessarily make it easier for them to use drugs. TREADS, a Comox Valley group that promotes drug resistance education, is appalled at the idea of legalizing drugs. (Earlier this year, TREADS strongly advocated for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program which begins in local elementary schools this year as a pilot project.) "Unfortunately, (Melnuk is) misinformed," said TREADS chair Lois Thompson. She said the group has already offered to show Melnuk follow-up studies on the Swiss experience, which show legalization has exacerbated the problems associated with drugs. The studies also show that making drugs available legally would increase addiction, she said. "I hope we never see the day of legalization of drugs," Thompson said. North Island drug awareness coordinator Barrie Schneider was in meetings Tuesday and could not be reached by press time. But former RCMP Vancouver Island district officer Cec Weigum, who is now retired in Courtenay, said he is personally opposed to the idea. "We've got enough problems with alcohol, let alone hard drugs," he said. "Police are naturally reluctant to see something that can be so detrimental to society as a whole become legalized just because of widespread use. I think they prefer the education approach - diminishing demand rather than legalizing it." Albert Montreuil, administrator of the Comox Valley Recovery Centre, which provides counselling and support for substance abusers, said he's also opposed to the idea. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D