BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO REACH THE ADDICTS

A recovering heroin addict shared his story of dependence and
recuperation in hopes of shaping future drug policy in B.C.

Robert Weppler, 37, joined more than 170 addiction experts and
community leaders at Keeping The Door Open, a forum on drug use that
wrapped up yesterday.

Weppler, an Onsite detox client who is prescribed a maintenance dose
of methadone, said barriers toenrolment, especially a seemingly
endless paper trail, should be removed.

"My suggestion for effective treatment is to meet us where we're at
when we're ready for treatment," he said.

He added outreach and Onsite's residential program were essential to
begin healing from a string of personal tragedies that could have cost
him his life.

"I tried opiates earlier in life and knew that if anything was going
to kill the emotional pain I was going through, that would," he said.
"At that time I didn't think I was going to live very long so to me it
was going to be a peaceful chicken-shit way out."