CITY'S DRUG PROBLEM REMAINS STEADY

Nanaimo Has A Ready, Accessible Supply Of Illegal Drugs.

Nanaimo RCMP Cpl. Linda Stratton, head of the municipal drug unit,
said police are seeing several different drug markets doing business
in the Harbour City.

The most visible is the downtown open-air drug market, where users
can find mostly crack cocaine and heroin. There are also what
Stratton refers to as 'crack shacks' and drug houses, peppered
throughout the city.

"These become one-stop drug shopping, where you can get almost
anything," she said.

In the bar scene, drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana are
easily obtained.

A fourth market comes from marijuana grow operations. Stratton said
police must focus their resources on both the drug houses and grow
ops, the downtown core, and the suppliers roaming the rest of the city.

"Every member that is here is involved," said Stratton, adding her
unit consists of six members dedicated specifically to drug offences.

"To investigate a grow, we usually count on the public, they're
usually our first line. Then we go from there."

Services devoted to helping those who are addicted are a key part of
the community.

Marg Fraser, Vancouver Island Health Authority manager of mental
health and addiction services for Nanaimo, said she has a downtown
team of two nurses dedicated to outreach work with drug addicts five
days a week.

"The major drug that my downtown team is seeing is crack cocaine,"
she said. "They are kind of engaging with people out there on the
street. It can take weeks, months to really build relationships."

VIHA provides 14 medical detoxification beds through a contract with
Clearview Detoxification Clinic, where the majority of patients are
treated for alcohol abuse, said Fraser.

The health authority also has an alcohol and drug outpatient
counselling service, 10 crisis beds in a supported-living house and
contracts with Nanaimo Addiction Resource for Families to provide a
needle exchange service.

The Salvation Army's New Hope Centre offers 16 supported-living
apartments for people with mental health or drug issues. For youth,
the Alcohol/Drug Abuse Prevention/Treatment Society provides
intensive counselling programs.

Deborah Matchett, executive director, said patients ADAPT sees are
mostly multi-substance users, with alcohol being the number one drug
of choice, followed closely by marijuana and cocaine.

On top of the outpatient counselling offered by six counsellors,
ADAPT sends counsellors into high schools once a week.

There are also programs for youth who are dealing with a family
member who has a substance abuse problem and programs for families
trying to help a teen through addiction.

"I think that if kids are seeking service and wanting to get help,
the services are here," said Matchett.

She said also in Nanaimo are two detoxification beds and four
stabilization beds just for youth.

On top of these services, Haven Society offers supportive housing for
women committed to recovery, Tillicum Haus Native Friendship Centre
offers addiction counselling and support with an Aboriginal focus and
John Howard Society has two addiction treatment programs.

France Tellier, director of programs at John Howard Society, said the
society provides support for inmates at Nanaimo Correctional Centre
as well as a 12-bed transitional program for people in recovery.

Tellier is also administrator of Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action
Committee, made up of groups who provide addiction treatment.

"We get together, we discuss the services in Nanaimo and how we can
help each other to provide better services for the clients. It's a
really good opportunity to get together as a group and have a voice."