DETOX CENTRE SEEN AS WAY TO EASE CRACK USE

Peterborough needs a detox centre if it wants to get serious about
dealing with drug users.

That's the message from Peggy Shaughnessy, an addiction counsellor
and president of Whitepath Consulting and Counselling Services.

"Detox is step one to getting people off drugs," she says.

"Why don't we have that here?"

Her comments come in the wake of Project Crackdown, a major drug
investigation by Peterborough police that has surprised many in the
community - even the officers involved.

"They're not the major distributors," Sergeant Streeter, major case
manager for the criminal investigation unit, says of the accused.

"And a significant number of those charged are users themselves."

He says that crack cocaine users often begin selling to support their
own habits.

That's one of the reasons why Ms Shaughnessy feels detox is so
important. Crack cocaine is cheap and very addictive, and getting off
it is a medical process, she explains.

Addiction counselling services are offered in Peterborough, but there
are no public facilities where addicts can go through withdrawal in a
medically supervised setting.

The closest detox facility is Pinewood Centre, in Oshawa, and it's
funded by the Ministry of Health.

"You don't just quit taking drugs," says Ms Shaughnessy.

"Withdrawal is very difficult. It's serious and it can be dangerous."

One area resident, who asked not to be identified, says his mother
lives on Aylmer Street a block down from a crack house police raided
last week. The 25-year-old says he's had to chase dealers away from
the neighborhood. He's dealt marijuana before, never cocaine, he
says, but knows that it's readily available.

"The drugs will always be there," he explains.

"If people want it and their usual guy got busted they'll find it
somewhere else."

Sgt. Streeter says after an undercover operation like Project
Crackdown, the people involved in the drug trade are generally more cautious.

"I'm not naive enough to believe that this will shut down the illicit
drug trade in the community," he explains.

"But at least these people know there will be consequences."

However, in relative terms, crack and cocaine use in Peterborough is
"not really worse than any other community," adds Sgt. Streeter.

And although the magnitude of the recent busts might alarm some
people, those who work in addiction services are not at all shocked.

"I'm surprised at the level of astonishment that's being expressed,"
says Patricia Knapp, director of social services with the City.

"This is not a new problem and it's not a small problem."

She believes early intervention is the key to reducing drug use.

"The real question is, what causes them to become addicted?" asks Ms Knapp.

"There are many, many factors."

The department of social services directs people to agencies in the
community that can help people find jobs, homes, food and counseling;
all of which can help people get their lives on track, she says.

"Detox is intervention that comes after the fact," says Ms Knapp.

"And, although the more services the better, our concern is equally
on the prevention end."

With prevention and reduction in mind, the Peterborough police
started a substance abuse community mobilization initiative last
March, says Deputy Chief Ken Jackman.

"It was spearheaded by police and involves 25-plus community
stakeholders," he says.

The goal is to address drug use from different educational and
service perspectives, not just law enforcement.

Ms Shaughnessy commends this effort.

"Ken [Jackman] is very supportive of the community," she says.

"And I think the police are doing their job."

However, she says the problem extends beyond what police can do,
because drugs will always be available. And sometimes it extends
beyond what counselling alone can do, because addiction is so powerful.

"If two crack houses get busted today, there will be five more open
tomorrow. We're never going to get rid of drugs," Ms Shaughnessy explains.

"But we can diminish the demand."