DRUG COURT TO TACKLE ADDICTION

Users Treated As Sick, Not Criminals

Canadian drug addicts will get a chance to be treated as sick citizens
instead of incorrigible criminals under an innovative crime prevention
plan outlined Thursday by Justice Minister Anne McLellan.

The federal government's goal is to set up special drug courts in all
major Canadian cities over the next three years.

Since a dedicated court was established in Toronto nearly two years
ago, other cities and most provinces have been clamouring for the
pilot project to be expanded. It is aimed at directing non-violent
offenders who use crime to feed their habits into rehabilitation programs.

"They've got to have a will to turn their lives around. But it's a
much more constructive approach and has much higher long-term success
rates than the straight criminal justice system where there's very
little attention paid to the addiction and treatment of it," McLellan
said in an interview.

"The costs are infinitesimal compared to what you can save if you can
actually treat these people and turn them into productive citizens."

"Otherwise, they're just going to come back out on the streets and do
the same thing over again."

In a little-noticed section of the Liberal campaign platform, the
party promised to more than double its crime prevention budget by $145
million over the next four years. Over the same period, the Liberals
committed $420 million to a national drug strategy to tackle substance
abuse.

Youth drug abuse has jumped back to the high levels of the early
1970s. Government studies indicate about 70 per cent of prisoners are
in jail because of involvement with drugs or alcohol. In Toronto, it's
estimated 90 per cent of female prostitutes are hooked on heroin or
crack cocaine, McLellan said.

Crisis levels

Drug abuse is at crisis levels in Vancouver where it's believed there
are 12,000 hardcore users in the metropolitan area. More than 270
addicts have died of overdoses so far this year in Vancouver. Last
year, more than 400 died in Vancouver and Toronto.

Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen released a discussion paper last week
advocating drug courts. "Our approach is, fundamentally, that users
are sick and the pushers are evil."

"It's certainly a concern and a problem we have," added Edmonton Mayor
Bill Smith. "The city would be interested in working with the federal
government in any way, shape or form."

The Toronto drug court cost Ottawa about $1.6 million. Other funding
and resources are provided by the province and city. A dedicated team
consists of an assigned judge, federal Crown prosecutor and defence
counsel assisted by social agencies, treatment experts and employment
counsellors.

Addicts who choose treatment over jail must submit to weekly urine
tests and attend therapy sessions.

The most expensive part of the Liberal drug strategy calls for a
crackdown on organized crime and expanded enforcement measures against
traffickers.

The Canadian Alliance takes a similar approach to ending the cycle of
crime and poverty and hopelessness of addiction. During the election
campaign, it went a step further than the Liberals in calling for
increased funding for drug awareness programs and the treatment of
addicts through immediate access to rehab facilities. Leader Stockwell
Day views addicted criminals as sick, drawing on his background as a
counsellor helping troubled young adults in Edmonton 25 years ago.

As for other crime prevention measures, more than 435 communities have
received federal assistance since 1998. But thousands more were turned
down because of lack of funding, McLellan said.