LOWERTOWN VENTS RAGE OVER DRUGS

Lowertown residents and activists at a public meeting last night
lashed out at Ottawa's needle program, saying it not only gives
addicts the tools to kill themselves but is exposing innocent children to harm.

"The situation in the city has never been worse," said Chris Grinham,
a Lowertown resident and a worker with Safer Ottawa. Mr. Grinham, who
came armed with buckets of discarded needles, was one of the many
residents who spoke out at the spirited community meeting with city
and provincial officials about Ottawa's drug problem. The discussion
took place in Lowertown, considered to be one of the areas worst
affected by illicit drugs.

Ottawa resident Cheryl Parrot said the syringe problem hasn't really
improved over the last 10 years and that residents are still
struggling with finding syringes in parks. "No one should have to
deal with this," she said.

At least 40 people attended the meeting at the Elisabeth Bruyere
Health Centre. While many people expressed concerns about the drug
problem and the needle and crack pipe programs, there were some who
spoke in favour of treatment options, noting their views wouldn't be
popular with the crowd.

Mayor Larry O'Brien told the meeting that the needle program, as it
exists in Ottawa, is not working and needs to be managed properly. He
said an ideal needle program, where one needle is exchanged for
another, would be one with treatment conditions attached. Counselling
for drug users and proper protection for the surrounding community
are essential factors to be considered, he said.

Mr. O'Brien also spoke out against the crack pipe program, being run
by the province in Ottawa.

He said giving free crack pipes to addicts just added gas to the
fire, and said the program should be abolished. "It's very much like
giving bullets to someone with an empty gun who wants to commit
suicide," Mr. O'Brien said.

Meanwhile, Dr. David Salisbury, Ottawa's outgoing medical officer of
health, spoke last night at a meeting of the city's health and social
services advisory committee held simultaneously with the meeting
organized by area residents.

He called for less emotionally charged rhetoric when it comes to
dealing with drugs.

"My plea is, we do have a drug problem. We have for quite some time.
It was my first presentation to council in 2004, but nobody was
listening," Dr. Salisbury said.

He said the problem is complex and to be addressed by more than just
police enforcement. He added that he spent too much of his time
clearing up "unsubstantiated rumours and allegations" made on radio talk shows.

"The degree of fear and concern probably outweighs the actual risk,"
he said. "There needs to be some degree of public education. But the
more we reassure, the more problems we get into."

For instance, he said the chance of the HIV virus surviving on a
needle that is left outside is virtually impossible.

Dr. Salisbury also said that a one-for-one needle exchange program
proposed by some councillors is impractical. He also doubted the
province would pick up the entire $200,000 tab for the proposed
expansion of a discarded needle pickup, as council has hoped.

He said the usual funding formula calls for a 25-per-cent input from
the city and added that continued bashing of the province on this
issue has probably not won the city any friends at Queen's Park.

"You can't solve the problem by telling users to just say, 'no.'

"If we don't hang together as a community and take all this into
account we will continue to have this problem for the next two, five
medical officers of health."

Dr. Salisbury is leaving his job on May 5 to join the federal
government as director of civil aviation medicine with Transport
Canada. When asked if he had any advice for his successor, he paused.

"I never cracked the nut on how to do it right," he said.

The mayor did not comment yesterday on whether the next medical
officer will be one who focuses on needle exchanges versus straight
distribution. "I certainly think the City of Ottawa needs a medical
officer of health that can communicate and is willing to communicate
to council, to the mayor on a more open and transparent basis," he said.