REGRESSION IN DRUG FIGHT

The fight against drug addiction in the province took a big step
backwards this week with the Alberta Health Services' decision to
cancel the program that handed out free crack pipes.

The harm reduction program represented one of the most cost-effective
ways of dealing with addiction. Though perhaps a counter-intuitive
way of tackling the problem, it was one of the most successful.

Now, the vicious circle continues.

Step one of that circle starts with Mr. A waking up one morning and
finding his car window smashed for a few valuables. It continues when
he finds himself facing problems getting medical treatment because of
a clogged and over-burdened health system. It continues when he gets
his tax bill which pays for the legal system and policing.

Step two sees Mr. A complain about all these problems and is told a
good chunk of these issues start with drug addiction -- men and women
who have delved into the dark world of serial drug abuse who will do
just about anything to feed the habit. They'll bust into Mr. A's car
and a dozen others nightly, commit property crime on a wholesale
basis to pay for drugs and chronically be arrested. Dirty needles and
crack pipes will be shared spreading communicable diseases with
drugs, destroying formerly productive individuals from the inside out
while addling their minds. As for medical treatment, it's sought only
during the most advance stages of illness.

Step three sees Mr. A say something has to be done. Panels of
streetworkers, doctors, addiction experts and politicians gather to
address the issue. They come up with a philosophy that is both
cost-effective and addresses the problem head-on; Provide 25-cent
needles and pipes to cut the spread of disease. Use that point of
contact to provide addiction counselling and basic medical care. Back
counselling up with housing support.

Step four sees small but measurable results that display
exponentially higher achievement rates of success in treating drug
addiction than anything tried before. Streetworkers find that despite
the cost of counselling and social support, every success story costs
the state less socially and economically than not doing anything but
arresting and detaining.

Step five, Mrs. B doesn't like the idea and starts complaining to
politician C, saying the program actually makes the problem worse --
despite not having any facts and evidence to counter the claim. The
program gets axed.

Step six is a return to step one and finding the money, program and
expertise to develop whole new steps 2, 3 and 4. And hope Mrs. B, Mr.
and Mrs. D through Z take part in the process to avoid step five.

(Alex McCuaig is a reporter with the Medicine Hat News. You can
comment on this and other editorials online at
www.medicinehatnews.com/opinions)