PIPES NO SUBSTITUTE FOR TREATMENT

When it comes to drug addiction, supporting harm reduction programs
does not preclude supporting treatment.

That is the message Courtenay council would like to send to the
provincial government.

Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard proposed Tuesday that council write to the
provincial government to support more funding for drug addiction
treatment and express council's opinion that the harm reduction
program is not in lieu of treatment.

Last month, council heard about a crack cocaine pipe education and
harm reduction program from the Vancouver Island Health Authority
(VIHA) and AIDS Vancouver Island and voted to write to VIHA
supporting the expansion of the program to include the distribution
of safe mouthpieces and pushsticks.

Following the presentation, Leonard received some communication
suggesting there were misinterpretations in the community about why
council was supporting the program and about council's
responsibility, she noted.

"I thought this was a good opportunity in view of some of the things
I was hearing that we could certainly clarify to senior government
that by approving the distribution of the mouthpieces that we were
not suggesting in any way that was in lieu of treatment," she said.

Council voted, not unanimously, to send a letter.

Coun. Jon Ambler, who voted against sending the letter, was concerned
whether this issue falls within council's power.

"I'm kind of on the horns of dilemma on this on whether we are
actually doing any good here," he said. "It's a good debate, but I'm
not sure this actually falls within our remit."

Coun. Manno Theos did not support sending the letter either. He felt
Leonard's motion was too vague, as it did not specify what the
treatment would be and about which drugs they were speaking.

"I feel Coun. Leonard is coming with the right heart; my concern
would be it appears to be a bit vague," he said. "I really don't know
exactly what that would mean. There are so many different drug
addiction treatments."

The resolution is meant to articulate the need to deal with the issue
of harm reduction, noted Leonard.