DRUG-SITE DECISION WILL BE MILESTONE

A Daily News Editorial By Mel Rothenburger

A test of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's ability to expand beyond
narrow partisan thinking to practical solutions on major social
issues comes two months from now.

Harper's political bias is that the solution to criminal behaviour is
enforcement. His mind does not naturally turn itself to the notion of
harm reduction and management in the case of so fundamental a social
challenge as drug addiction.

It is, therefore, tough slogging for those who believe in the value
of safe injection sites to convince him the concept is not simply
pandering to criminals and encouraging even more drug abuse. Harper
is playing his cards close to his chest, saying he's awaiting the
results of more studies before deciding whether to extend the
exemption from narcotics laws of the Vancouver safe injection site.

The exemption, granted by the old Liberal government, expires Sept.
12. Studies of the site during its first three years have been almost
universal in their conclusions that it has reduced crime and
violence, and saved lives. The East Hastings Street area where drug
addiction has been rampant during the past several decades is safer
and cleaner.

Realtors are reporting that buyers are actually considering the area
when making home-purchase decisions, something that was unheard of
previously as East Hastings deteriorated into a ghetto of addicts who
commonly used back alleys and even sidewalks to shoot up.

This experiment is of particular interest to Kamloops, which has a
significant addiction issue of our own, along with attendant
challenges such as AIDS.

The Vancouver injection site, of course, is not perfect. It hasn't
solved the drug addiction problem in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside,
but there's no doubt things are better than before it was opened.

Some people will never accept anything but legal punishment as the
response to drug addiction, and the whole idea of a safe injection
site is anathema to them. They believe we should keep on trying the
things that have never worked.

Whether or not you accept the notion that drug addiction is a
disease, there's no question it is a social plague that goes to the
root of most of our crime and many of our health issues. Since
punishing addicts has done little to curb addiction, we need new ways
of getting at the problem.

If Harper panders to the constituency that believes punishment is the
only acceptable tool, and refuses to renew the Vancouver exemption,
he will terminate the small but important progress that has been made
in addressing street-level drug addiction. In fact, he'll set it back
many years.

And cities like Vancouver, and Kamloops, will be left to struggle
with the problem using nothing but old and failed methods.