WAR ON DRUGS WILL FAIL: EXPERTS

Government Opponents Call for Greater Focus on Harm Reduction Initiatives

Drug legislation in Canada is being shaped by political ideology
instead of scientific information, say critics of recent federal drug
policy announcements. And it's hurting some of society's most
vulnerable members.

Critics are concerned that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is shifting
towards a U.S.-style war on drugs.

"The message from the federal government right now is that
enforcement is the key," said Andrea Langlois of AIDS Vancouver
Island. "[Harper] is really focusing on get-tough measures that we
know don't work."

She pointed to the rise of HIV and hepatitis C rates in the U.S. as
evidence of the ineffectiveness of an enforcement-first strategy.

Harper and Health Minister Tony Clement announced $64 million in new
funding across the country. But they also announced a shift away from
harm reduction. Harm reduction is one of the elements of the
four-pillars approach that has been much discussed in Vancouver.
According to the Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC), the
money will be split between the other three pillars, with treatment
receiving $32 million, enforcement receiving $22 million and
prevention receiving $10 million.

"This government is of the view that the National Anti-Drug Strategy
constitutes an appropriately balanced approach through the delivery
of a continuum of prevention, treatment and enforcement activities
designed to significantly prevent harm," said Carole Saindon of
Health Canada in an e-mail.

But Dr. Scott Macdonald, associate professor at UVic and assistant
director of research for CARBC, warned that anything short of "super,
super severe" penalties is unlikely to have much affect. Macdonald
said he worries tougher drug penalties will instead lead to a rise in
violence as dealers do more to avoid getting caught.

Macdonald also pointed out that the money invested, while looking
impressive, doesn't go that far when one considers it will be divided
between all provinces and territories. And he said he worries that
the lack of funding toward harm reduction is short-sighted.

"They're spending a little more than [$500,000] a year on needle
exchange programs," he said. "But when you think of the consequences
of one person having HIV, that could easily cost [$500,000] in terms
of lost wages, drain on resources and treatment costs."

Sharing needles is one of the leading causes of HIV transmission in
Canada and AIDS Vancouver Island cites studies that show needle
exchange programs can be expected to "prevent at least 24 HIV
infections" over a five year span. Macdonald stressed that treatment
and prevention are important, but said harm-reduction pays for itself
in the long run.

And beyond money, harm-reduction has been proven to save lives.

Jeff West, an employee at Vancouver's Insite - North America's only
safe consumption site for illicit drug users - said they have an
average of 250 overdose incidents a year and have yet to have a
death. Further, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), who is involved in
the running of Insite, has results of studies published in
prestigious medical journals posted on their website. One study
published in the New England Journal of Medicine found, "Insite is
leading to increased uptake into detoxification programs and
addiction treatment." Another study from the American Journal of
Preventive Medicine reported that it is the "highest-risk users" that
come to Insite.

Still, Insite was unable to get a three-and-a-half year extension on
their exception under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act they applied for. They need the exception to allow
illegal drugs like heroin and crack brought on site. But they were
only granted half a year by Clement.

"This extension will allow research on how supervised injection sites
affect prevention, treatment and crime to be continued for six more
months," said the Health Canada press release. Both West and Langlois
described this as an "ideological" decision, with West saying the
government has ignored the scientific evidence already published.

There is also a benefit to the community at large. West and Langlois
report they receive a 104 per cent return on syringes handed out.
This means there are less dirty needles being discarded in bushes and parks.

But both stressed that the biggest need is policy that considers drug
addicts as people.

"They're marginalized, living on the street, and see a lot of
horrific shit," said West. "It doesn't help someone get out by
berating them, but loving them, supporting them - they're human
beings. People have empathy for kids who go through a lot of shit,
but when they hit 19, forget it."