NAOMI IS WORKING, SAYS CITY DRUG CZAR

The city's drug policy czar says Vancouver should expand its
prescription heroin program, even if the contentious study isn't
close to being completed.

The North American Opiate Medication Initiative, or NAOMI, is
supposed to wrap up in 2008. But Vancouver drug policy co-coordinator
Donald MacPherson has seen enough proof the program works.

"The evidence is in that we should be doing heroin prescription,"
MacPherson said in an interview. "We know that this can work for
individuals in our community, so why we wouldn't do it is beyond me."

MacPherson said prior studies in Europe have shown similar programs
can reduce addiction issues like petty crime.

"We've seen this type of program can save lives and minimize costs in
terms of policing," he said. "The evidence is very compelling."

Abbotsford Conservative MP Randy White has seen the evidence, and
doesn't buy it.

"It's not accomplishing what the vast majority of people would want,
and that is to get people off drugs," said White, who now is fronting
the Drug Prevention Network of Canada, a group opposed to harm reduction.

"Harm reduction focuses not on getting people off drugs, but
succumbing to the fact there are addictions."

But Diane Tobin, a 30-year heroin addict now on the NAOMI program,
said the study has empowered her now that she isn't homeless and
doesn't spend her time chasing street heroin.

"I'm not fearing for my life every time I turn around," said Tobin.