DRUG ABUSE ABOUT HEALTH, FORUM FINDS

All the key players - substance users, researchers, policy makers,
law enforcement and local business people - attended a recent
substance-abuse forum - well, almost everyone.

"The health authority," said Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe, when asked who
should be sitting at the table next time, adding that the focus
should be on drug addiction as a health issue, not an enforcement issue.

"It's time to come to terms with the fact that we're a
substance-using culture," said Connie Carter, a member of Voices of
Substance, citing the prevalence and acceptability of alcohol,
cigarettes and coffee in our society. "Unfortunately, the burden of
marginalization falls on people using illicit substances."

About 170 people examined health, public safety and social justice
cost of the current approach to substance use.

Several members of the forum stressed a need for more treatment facilities.

"The most immediate need is a place for people to go to when they
want to get clean," said Barb Smith, community facilitator.

Lowe agreed, adding that a perfect world would have treatment on demand.

"We can't tell people it's a two-week wait because you can't find
them in two weeks."

Former drug user Andy Snitzer spoke of the benefits of having a
treatment facility here. Now on parole and in a methadone program, he
reinforced the message that enforcement doesn't curb substance abuse.

"I did crime to support a habit, but I had no control over my addiction."

He spent the last 30 years in and out of prison, holding up banks
with phony weapons and B&Es to support his habit, he said.

Snitzer added that when he went to jail, he learned more about crime.

Victoria police Chief Paul Battershill said Victoria would be a good
place to implement a specialized drug court. The number of substance
users in Victoria is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000.

The judge and staff of a community court have comprehensive
information about offenders and devise a range of punitive and
rehabilitative measures.