AIDS GROUP SEEKS OVERHAUL OF DRUG LAWS

A Canadian health crisis -- to which Calgary is not immune -- must be
stopped, says a national HIV/AIDS organization.

A report by the Canadian HIV AIDS Legal Network has prompted city
groups to call for senior governments to reduce the toll of
drug-injection use.

"The number of HIV and hepatitis C infection among people who use
injection drugs in Calgary is still lower than in Edmonton," said Ralf
Jurgens, executive director of the network.

"But that is no reason for complacency, because we know the numbers
are growing and we also know programs that should be available are
not."

The network has recommended long-term changes to drug legislation and
policy. It also wants heroin prescription pilot programs to be started
in Calgary and urges access to methadone treatment be improved.

Alberta's sole methadone clinic is in Edmonton, but officials with the
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission say plans are in the works
to establish one in Calgary.

But Jurgens said Alberta still rates "very poorly" compared with other
provinces in its response to injection drug use.

He objects to Alberta's policy of not providing bleach to prison
inmates. In other provinces, including B.C., Ontario and Quebec,
inmates are taught how to clean their needles with bleach, he said.

"This is a grave concern because many people who use injection drugs
will go in and out of prisons."

Virginia Wheeler, co-ordinator of the Calgary Health Region's
Safeworks program, said there are approximately 6,000 intravenous drug
users in the city, ranging from recreational users to hard-core
addicts. The latter make up a small portion of the total, she said.

Both Wheeler and Kevin Midbo, executive director of AIDS Calgary, say
hundreds of addicts could benefit from safe injection sites, where
people could exchange needles and get supervised care from health
professionals. "That site could be the doorway for that person to
leave his addiction," said Midbo.

Federal Health Minister Allan Rock responded to the network's report
by recognizing three priorities: reducing the harm associated with
injection drug use; providing care, treatment and support; and
involving injection drug users in policy-making.