SULLIVAN'S DRUG PLAN ISN'T THE BETTER WAY

Re: Hope and a way to the future, June, 9

As a former beat cop who spent more than seven years working in the
Downtown Eastside, it was nice to see Jonathan Fowlie's article.

Italy's San Patrignano drug treatment program is a far better
solution to the drug addiction problem in the Downtown Eastside than
Mayor Sam Sullivan's idea of providing drug addicts with "substitute
drugs." An emphasis on treatment programs with strategic enforcement
and prevention is clearly the only way to approach the problem -- not
another "harm reduction" initiative.

I can recall on many occasions when denizens of the poorest postal
code in the country would approach me and say they wanted desperately
to get into treatment and leave the drug life behind them.

However, adequate treatment didn't exist or there was a waiting list.
When an addict reaches out for help, he or she must be removed from
the Downtown Eastside and placed in a treatment facility immediately.

There should be a San Patrignano style treatment facility built as
far away as possible from this drug-infested area and adequately
staffed with health care professionals (doctors, nurses, etc. who are
committed to addiction medicine treatment), social workers, job skill
counsellors and teachers to name a few.

On many occasions I have seen addicts dry out in the few detox
centres that exist in the city, walk out the doors and immediately
cave in to profiteering drug dealers who litter the streets and are
more than willing to front you your drug of choice. Furthermore,
these treatment facilities must include a life skills and job skills
training component. Once an addict has been properly treated and is
deemed "clean" we must assist him or her with integration back into
normal society.

Imagine a former drug addict showing up for a job interview and being
asked the following question: What have you been doing the last few
years? The former drug addict responds, "I was a crackhead living in the DTES."

Do you think he or she has a hope in hell in getting the job? Of
course not, and that's why they need to be guided and supported every
step of the way. The last thing a drug addict needs is a substitute drug.

Const. Rom Ranallo lives in Aldergrove.