"INNOVATION FUND" WOULD GIVE $1 MILLION TO LONDON'S DRUG BATTLE

A $1-million "special innovation fund" proposed to the London City
Council is the latest initiative to combat local substance abuse issues.

The fund, suggested by Ross Fair, London's general manager of
community services, would pay for projects targeted to reduce
substance abuse problems plaguing London's core.

Although substance abuse doesn't fall specifically under city
council's portfolio, numerous issues pertaining to municipal politics
can arise if the problem isn't addressed.

The city of London undoubtedly has a drug problem, said Amanda
Pfeffer, London Police Service media relations officer.

"All major municipalities have major issues associated to drug
abuse," Pfeffer said. "It's great to see the City of London is taking
extra steps to address the issue and it certainly will be interesting
in the future to re evaluate and determine the successes of this program."

Clinic 528, located on Dundas Street, is a methadone replacement
therapy centre. Methadone is a drug used to treat opiate addicts. The
clinic is one public resource available in London for those in need
of substance abuse treatment, though it's currently overrun with patients.

One staff member called the situation "overwhelming" and said the
clinic fields roughly 400 patients a day.

Doctor Martyn Judson, Clinic 528's medical director, said Fair's
proposal sounds politically expedient.

"I don't reject any efforts by city council [but] we've had to endure
a lot of negative press about the harmful effects of the location [of
the clinic]," Judson said. "This criticism is not true."

Judson said the clinic invites criticism, as it highlights the
problems already existing in the area, such as prostitution,
substance abuse, and homelessness.

"Our clinic is the lightning rod for these problems," he said. "City
Hall has tended to be very negative, critical, and uninformed about our work."

Judson added that by creating a million dollar fund, City Hall would
recognize addiction as a prominent disease.

"City council should promote that we're doing good work," he said.
"What would be most useful would be for them to provide more police
officers to stop people from loitering and congregating around the clinic."

He added doing so would help reduce the clinic's negative reputation.

Careful monitoring of patients is vital to the success of any
methadone program, said Caitlin Brandon, a Western graduate and
former Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres employee.

"One issue is that methadone itself also has street value -- you have
to worry about people taking it and selling it on the street if you
allow them to take it out of the building," she said.

The diversity in clientele is another hurdle to overcome, she added.

"Security can be an issue?there are people on the street who come in,
but also people who have become addicted to their pain killers for surgeries.

"It's not just your typical idea of who would visit a methadone clinic."