CRACK, METH USE ON THE RISE

A "marked increase" in the use of crack cocaine and methamphetamines has
taken place in North Surrey in the two years since a wide-ranging regional
drug strategy was proposed and later fizzled, according to one of Surrey
RCMP's top drug enforcement officers.

Cpl. John Furac said the hard drugs, both potent central nervous system
stimulants, have become increasingly prevalent in the area from Whalley to
Guildford, although statistics are unavailable.

"Crack dens and smoke houses have become very prolific in those parts of
the city," Furac said.

The time frame of the increase coincides with the period since a discussion
paper was released by the South Fraser Health Region that proposed a
coordinated, multi-agency approach to getting a handle on the region's drug
problem.

Released in the fall of 1999, the bid has since fizzled out for lack of a
single agency among the many proposed for involvement - various health,
social and police departments - with the time and resources to take the
lead on following it through.

The paper proposed defining drug use as a health rather than criminal
issue, and involved a centrally coordinated balance of law enforcement,
prevention and education, and "harm reduction" such as needle exchanges.
Furac said he agrees a balanced approach of some sort is needed, and that
it can't be left purely up to the police.

"Our job is not to be social workers," he said. While the South Fraser's
coordinated drug strategy has stalled, the city of Vancouver is pushing
ahead with a similar multifaceted approach. And Vancouver Mayor Philip
Owen, who says the suburbs "haven't shown a great deal of interest" in
tackling the drug problem, warns they will see their drug problems getting
worse soon if they don't start taking the issue more seriously.

"People think the problem is all in the Downtown Eastside," Owen told The
Leader.

"But two-thirds of the drug dealers here don't live in Vancouver. They come
into Vancouver on the SkyTrain to do their dirty work during the day, and
go back to the suburbs at night.

"Well, that game is over because we're putting a stop to it. It's going to
be on their front doorstep pretty soon. Stay tuned."

Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum replied that Surrey city hall is taking steps
against the drug problem. He said the city has made gains in licensing drug
and alcohol treatment facilities, and is now working on housing for the
homeless and increased drug enforcement by police.

"Owen seems to want to blame everyone else," McCallum said. "In Surrey we
haven't been out in public like him, but we've been quietly doing action on
it."

Nevertheless, McCallum said he supports Vancouver's multifaceted approach
in principle. He said he would gladly attend a regional mayors' forum on
the issue, a meeting Owen said he has been trying to arrange for some time.

Meanwhile, a B.C. government task force is expected to wrap up a review of
the province's addictions services by the end of this month. Victoria has
primary responsibility for drug policies, and Vancouver's proposal won't go
ahead until both the province and Ottawa agree to enforce some of its
provisions.

Vancouver's proposal is available at www.city.vancouver.bc.ca on the Internet.