NEW ESTIMATE PUTS ADDICTS AT 10,000

Others Say That Number Is Too High

There may be 10,000 drug addicts in the Downtown Eastside -- twice as many
as previously thought.

Dr. Thomas Kerr, who studies drug use at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in
HIV/AIDS, said prior estimates have excluded addicts hooked on drugs they
smoke.

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority estimates there are 4,700 drug
addicts in the area. Kerr said they're all injection-drug-users.

The number does not include addicts who smoke rock cocaine, crack cocaine
and crystal meth.

"In addition to that 4,700 number, there are thousands of people who don't
inject, but engage in other forms of illicit drug use," Kerr said yesterday.

"There's a lot of people who smoke crack cocaine, but don't inject. We've
never had a count of non IV-drug users.

"In the Downtown Eastside, you're probably looking at between 5,000 and
10,000 illicit drug users. It's not an increase. It's always been there, it
just hasn't been counted."

Kerr said it's vital to find the real number of addicts so addiction
services can be targeted to those who need them.

"We just don't know, and it's absurd that we don't," he said.

Ann Livingstone, director of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, said
there are many more rock users than injection drug-users.

"There are many, many people smoking rock cocaine," said Livingstone. "It's
like penny candy in a store."

It's convenient and is often sold in $5 crumbs, making it a cheap and
popular high.

The network is pushing for an inhalation room for drug smokers.

Two prominent public health figures say Kerr's estimate is too high.

Vancouver's medical health officer, Dr. John Blatherwick, figures there are
3,000 drug addicts in the Downtown Eastside and 3,000 around the rest of
the city.

"[Kerr's] number . . . that's almost the population down there," said
Blatherwick.

Donald McPherson, the city's drug-policy co-ordinator, says there are about
4,000 addicts in the Downtown Eastside.

"I just can't imagine [10,000] is correct," said McPherson. "If that were
true, I think you'd really notice it on the streets. We'd be bumping into
each other all over the place."