'BAD' HEROIN KILLS TWO IN ABBOTSFORD

Potent stock circulating here and throughout Fraser
Valley

High-potency heroin is circulating through the streets of Abbotsford
and the Lower Mainland, say local police.

Two people in Abbotsford have died due to heroin overdoses between
January and April of this year, compared to none over that time in
2010, and as many as four other deaths in which overdose is suspected
are still under investigation.

One of those fatalities being investigated occurred over the weekend,
said APD spokesman Const. Ian MacDonald.

Toxicology results from that case are not available yet, but the issue
of this new type of heroin, which some tests have revealed is two to
three times more potent than normal, is growing, he said.

"It's a minimum of two dead people, which I think is bad enough," said
MacDonald.

"If that number doubles, then we're talking about four heroin
overdoses compared to zero [at this time] last year."

However, there are people within the drug user community who believe
both the police and the City of Abbotsford deserve a share of the
blame for this new brand of heroin.

Barry Shantz, a member of the BC/Yukon Association of Drug War
Survivors (BCYADWS), said prohibition laws have done nothing to reduce
drug use and related crime.

"We believe we have the right to ingest, inject and consume drugs,"
said Shantz.

"The prohibition laws have done nothing to reduce the demand or the
supply."

MacDonald disagreed.

"I understand that there's a vigorous debate about what drugs, if any,
should be prohibited," he said.

"But I don't see . . . what that would do when you're dealing with
something that's at a potency that it kills people."

The new brand of high-potency heroin has become a hot topic of
conversation amongst drug users in the community.

"The users are going to go for the better quality," said
Shantz.

"The one's looking for that big whack are looking for that better
[heroin]."

Shantz added the city's harm reduction bylaw is an infringement of
human rights and a class-action lawsuit is expected to be filed on the
matter in the near future.

"Denying a specific type of health care to a specific group of people
is against the law," he said.

"The prohibition laws have done nothing to reduce the demand or the
supply."

MacDonald disagreed.

"I understand that there's a vigorous debate about what drugs, if any,
should be prohibited," he said.

"But I don't see . . . what that would do when you're dealing with
something that's at a potency that it kills people."

The new brand of high-potency heroin has become a hot topic of
conversation amongst drug users in the community.

"The users are going to go for the better quality," said
Shantz.

"The one's looking for that big whack are looking for that better
[heroin]."

So far in 2011, deaths from heroin overdoses in B.C. between January
and April are up almost triple what they were for the same time period
in 2010.

There have been 21 confirmed deaths caused by heroin overdose in 2011
through January to April, and many others still under investigation.