EXPERTS ON HUMAN MISERY

Odd Squad Shows The Harsh Reality Of Drug Addiction

The documentary footage was shocking: drug addicts shooting up, including a
woman so strung out she dug a gaping wound into her arm, thinking there
were worms living underneath her skin.

The graphic and emotional imagery came courtesy of the Odd Squad - a
Vancouver police unit that patrols the city's notorious downtown eastside.

Two members of the unit and a former heroin unit came to Yellowknife last
week to share their experiences, and talk to police and social agencies
here who have their own tales to tell.

"We aren't experts on drug addiction, but we are experts on human misery
associated with drug addiction," said the Odd Squad's Sgt. Toby Hinton.

More than 40 Yellowknifers attended the presentation held at the Salvation
Army centre Sept. 14.

The presentation outlined what drugs are out there and the tragedy drug
addicts face on the mean streets of Vancouver.

A problem in Yellowknife

Considering Yellowknife's own problems with drug and alcohol addiction,
audience members said getting some insight into what the Odd Squad was
important.

"I'm here to get more information and working tools," said Jeffery Amos, a
new withdrawal management services employee for the Salvation Army.

Amos came with five of his clients, who he said would benefit from seeing
how horrible life can be when addicted to drugs and alcohol.

RCMP Insp. Mike Payne came out to support fellow officers and to find out
more about issues Yellowknife struggles with.

"I'm a police officer and I'm certainly concerned about drug abuse and its
impact," said Payne.

The Odd Squad's primary goal is to prevent youth from getting involved in
drug culture.

Brought to Yellowknife by the John Howard Society - a social justice group
- - the team's members met with teens in the North Slave Correctional
Centre's young offenders facility.

Const. Mark Steinkampf said there are lots of drugs the youth told him were
present in town.

"Crack-cocaine, lots of ecstasy, meth(amphetamines), pot, and alcohol," are
the big ones, he said.

"We're finding it's mainly crack," said Ellen Maher who works at the
Salvation Army.

She said she's noticed drugs have become a big problem for the city in the
last two years.

The footage showing addicts using needles was the most shocking part of the
presentation.

Steinkampf said it's the community's responsibility to watch for drug
activity and report it.

"Be a part of the solution," he said.

Steinkampf said calling Crime Stoppers and reporting suspicious activity
are ways of doing this.

Steinkampf and the team met with RCMP officers stationed here and said,
"They're doing the best they can."

Former east side addict Randy Miller presented his story for the audience,
telling them marijuana and alcohol are a gateway for other drugs.

Describing himself as athletic, Miller said his addiction ruined any chance
of becoming a professional hockey player.

"There go my hockey dreams," said Miller.

The squad has produced a feature-length documentary called Behind the Blue
Lens, about addicts they've met and spoken to and a music video, with a
Vancouver band.

Other documentary projects are in the works.