SURREY TARGETING METHADONE USERS

VANCOUVER - There is an increasingly bitter fight in Surrey over a proposed
by-law that would force pharmacies to turn over personal information about
methadone users to police.

City councillors say the by-law will reduce the illegal street trade of the
drug. However, critics say the move is an invasion of privacy.

Recovering addict Patricia Penney says she's considering abandoning the
methadone program that's kept her clean for eight months, because police
would get access to her personal medical records.

"Just because we are recovering drug addicts does not make us second class
citizens," she says. "It doesn't make them have the right of you know any
information they please."

City councillor Dianne Watt says some pharmacists in parts of Whalley are
profiting from peoples addiction, and its time to clean up the area.

"They're not pharmacies at all," she says. They're open at the oddest hours
and they're not serving anyone but themselves."

The pharmacists warn that if addicts are scared away because their private
medical records are exposed they will return to drugs, and crime.

The B.C. College of Pharmacists adds that if they are forced to hand over
information to RCMP, they would be in conflict with their code of ethics.

"In our view their obligations are first and foremost to the
confidentiality of their patients record," says spokesperson Brenda Osmond
who says the bylaw needs to be changed.

Council is planning to meet with doctors, pharmacists and the public early
next month - before giving the by-law final approval.