DRUG REPORT AN EYE-OPENER

In Brief: A newly released report presents recommendations for a strategy
to deal with drug addiction in Regina.

It would be easy for residents of a city like Regina to ask why there is a
need for the community to have a drug addiction strategy.

It isn't as though drug addicts can routinely be found shooting up in the
city's alleyways or drug deals are going down on every street corner. For
the average Reginan, drug addiction is very low on the radar screen.

But figures contained in the Regina and Area Drug Strategy Report released
Thursday should be enough to shake any complacency that exists about drug
addiction in Regina.

There are an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 intravenous drug users in the Regina
Health District; roughly 32 per cent of intravenous drug users are
supporting children; 74 per cent of addicts are under 40 and 15 per cent
are under 20; and most disturbing of all, the Regina neonatal intensive
care unit reported that 67 babies were born addicted in each of the past
two years.

The report had its genesis in the decision of the Regina Crime Prevention
Commission in the spring of 2001 to make drug addiction a priority area.
Subsequently, a partnership between the commission and the City of Regina
resulted in Regina becoming one of nine pilot sites in Canada receiving
funding to develop a "municipal drug strategy." The need for a
multi-sectoral drug strategy was recognized at a forum on drug and alcohol
addiction in February 2002 and funding was then obtained to develop the plan.

The report identifies four priority areas: prevention; healing; ensuring
the community has the necessary resources and skills; and building
partnerships.

Unfortunately, if the experience of other jurisdictions is any guide, the
suggestion that the provision of safe injection sites be considered a
possible treatment option seems likely to launch a storm of protest. That
would be a pity. The report covers much ground in its 22 recommendations
and the suggestion is only one of 17 options listed under one of those
recommendations.

The study should be looked at as a whole and any decisions on its
recommendations should only be made after careful thought. Nothing should
be rejected out of hand simpy because it does not fit with preconceived
notions about how to deal with the problem.