CITY MAYOR LAUNCHES DRUG TRIAL FOR DOWNTOWN ADDICTS

Counselling, Help With Housing, Work Part Of Program

Phoenix Beck would have gladly taken a pill to get off crystal meth.

Hooked at 15, the Vancouver woman spent five years in spiralling drug
addiction before getting a prescription drug to curb her cravings.

Beck said she's thrilled Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan is launching a
new treatment trial to provide prescription drugs to chronic cocaine,
crack and meth addicts in the Downtown Eastside.

"It's just a really good starting-point for people to make the
decision to get clean," said Beck yesterday. "Every day, I woke up and
I just wanted to get high. It was ruining my life."

Beck took Adderall, a prescription amphetamine used for
attention-deficit disorder. Today, she's drug-free, and holds down a
job in the renewable energy sector.

Sullivan said the Chronic Addiction Substitution Treatment (CAST)
trial will only give legal, prescription pills to addicts.

"I have seen drug addiction destroy many young lives and communities,
and detract from the life of everyone," said Sullivan.

"People with addictions can be freed to find healing," he
said.

The stimulant-substitution program will need the OK from federal
authorities for a clinical trial.

The participants will be prescribed pills to be taken orally,
monitored, given drug counselling and helped with social housing and
employment.

Research in Europe and Australia has shown that oral drug substitutes
reduce cocaine use, criminal activity and cravings in
participants.

CAST is co-chaired by top federal Tory organizer John Reynolds, and is
being run by long-time Tory operative Lois Johnson.

"While this is not a panacea, ending drug dependency is our goal,"
said Johnson.

The CAST treatment trial will be led by top doctors, including
Vancouver's medical health officer Dr. John Blatherwick.

"We are ready to give this a shot," said Blatherwick. "The political
will is the thing that makes it good."

Vision Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson said he's unhappy Sullivan did
not consult city council about the substitute drug trial.

In a council motion today, Vision will ask for details, including a
cost breakdown.