Study recommends decriminalizing drugs

OTTAWA (CP) Drugs like heroin and cocaine should be decriminalized
to fight the epidemic of HIVAIDS among injection drug users, says a
major study for the federal Health Department.
The study says doctors should be able to prescribe narcotics, and
personal possession of small amounts for personal use should not be a
criminal offence.

The rate of HIVAIDS among injection drug users has been rising
dramatically and rates in Vancouver are now the highest in North
America, says the study by the National Task Force on HIVAIDS and
Injection Drug Use.

"Basically we face a public health emergency," Catherine Hankins,
chairwoman of the task force, said at a news conference Thursday.
The researchers say that 25 per cent of injection drug users in
Vancouver have HIV. In Montreal, the figure is 20 per cent, and the
problem is reported to be growing across Canada, even in smaller
cities.

The problem represents a major economic burden to society, since
medical care for a single HIV patient is estimated at $100,000. The
study notes that HIVpositive drug users may infect their sexual
partners and their children.

"The problem does not exist in a small population that we can write
off and marginalize," said Pamela Fralick of the Canadian Centre on
Substance Abuse, and a member of the task force.

"HIV and AIDS is spreading into every element of the population, it
cannot be contained."

The task force recommends a national plan in which addiction would be
treated as a medical and social issue, not a criminal problem.
This is the approach in other countries such as Switzerland, where
drug addicts can legally get drugs at injection centres, said Hankins.

She said the Swiss program has brought a dramatic decline in crime
and in the overdose rate. She suggested that Canadians would support a
similar program if they understood the benefits.
"The issue for people is that their homes are being broken into,
their cars are being broken into, because people need money to buy the
drugs."

The task force says Ottawa should decriminalize the possession of
currently illegal drugs for personal use, while instituting heavy
penalties for trafficking of any drug to minors.

"If we're serious about stopping this epidemic we have to look at
innovative solutions," said Mike O'Shaughnessy, of the B.C. Centre for
Excellence in HIVAIDS, and a member of the task force.

The rising infection rate is partly due to a shift to cocaine from
heroin among drug users. Cocaine is injected much more frequently than
heroin, so the risks of infection are higher.

"Cocaine users often shoot up 15 to 20 times a day," said Hankins.
"They start with their own equipment but often lose track of it.
Former heroin users are starting to use cocaine as well."