PROBLEMS ON STEPHEN AVENUE

Businesses Seek Crackdown on Drug Use

Stephen Avenue is one of Calgary's showcase streets.

The downtown pedestrian thoroughfare attracts a steady stream of
people using its shops and restaurants.

But some merchants say the street is also attracting a different crowd
- -- drug users who are feeding their addictions in public.

Jason Leader, manager of Cabernet Bistro Lounge, is asking for more
help from the police and the court system.

"They just have to crack down on them harder," said Leader, who found
a makeshift shelter littered with needles built on the roof of his
business.

Ald. Madeleine King has also noticed a growing problem.

"We have to find ways of stamping out the open drug use. It's been
steadily increasing. It is definitely getting worse."

Calgary police have been patrolling the area more frequently as part
of the city's Clean to the Core program, which started last year. They
say the drug use has increased in line with the growth in population,
nothing more.

Sgt. Jim Shymka said the strength of addictions is behind the visible
drug use.

"When they get it (drugs), they want to use it right away. That leads
to sometimes this problem of this open drug use."