COCAINE ADDICTS IN DETOX SOARING

Now Outnumber Drunks At City's Main Drunk Tank

WINNIPEG's biggest drunk tank, for the first time, is taking in more
crack cocaine and cocaine powder addicts than alcoholics.

Many of the dopers are coming from the suburbs, a spokesman for the
Main Street Project says.

The alarming trend is taking its toll on the non-profit centre, which
runs a 25-bed detox unit. "It's put a lot of pressure on the detox
unit," executive director Lainie Neal said.

In 2003, about 48 per cent of people in detox were there because of
alcoholism and 27 per cent were there due to cocaine addiction.

Last month, 45 per cent of the detox clients were on cocaine in either
its powder or crack forms, while only 35 per cent were there because
of booze. Only three per cent of those in detox were crystal
methamphetamine addicts.

Neal says the only reason the percentage of crystal meth clients isn't
higher is because the Main Street Project doesn't accept anyone under
18.

Yesterday afternoon at the unit's common area, a group of young people
were hanging around a pool table, joking and laughing. None of them
looked over 25.

Behind them, several others were slumped in couches watching Scarface,
a movie starring Al Pacino that follows the rise and fall of a cocaine
dealer.

Among them was 20-year-old Dustin Chagnon.

With earrings in both ears, several chains around his neck and wearing
a light blue sweat top and tuque, he looks like he stepped out of a
music video.

Instead, Chagnon is trying to kick a nasty crack habit that took hold
of him shortly after his 15th birthday.

He's been clean now for six days and hopes the worst is behind him.

"It's been good here. The people are nice and the staff is very nice,"
Chagnon said.

Chagnon, who checked himself in with the help of his mother, is from
Pine Falls. "Sometimes you go into the detox unit and it looks like a
high school grad party," Neal said.

Not only are the crack addicts younger, but they tend to be more
verbally aggressive, she says.

"Some of them are people who've had everything, and they can be very
demanding."

She says many come from the suburbs, where they have "burnt bridges."

John Borody of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba says there are
plenty of reasons why crack has become so prevalent.

"It gives a good buzz, it's easy to use and easy to find, and the
price isn't bad," Borody said.

For those looking to get clean, there are not a lot of options.

There are nine detox beds at Health Sciences Centre, but to get in you
must have a pre-existing medical condition.

The only other detox unit is the Main Street Project. "Basically,
we're the only place in town," Neal said.

The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba used to have 14 beds, but they
were closed more than a year ago.

Chagnon will stay at the Main Street Project for a few more days.
He'll then go to the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba for three
months of rehab.

After that, he hopes to put his troubles behind him and become an
electrician.

Sky isn't so sure what the future holds for her.

The 41-year-old mother of three has struggled with addictions to
cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs.

This is her third time in the detox unit at Main Street Project in the
last five years.

"It (crack) is just really highly addictive," Sky said. "It's an
instant high."

Neal says they've been working hard to educate and train staff about
the new street drugs. She says she would like to hire a full-time
nurse, but doesn't have the money for it.

The provincial government recently announced a $6.7-million strategy
to deal with addictions and mental-health issues.

More than a dozen organizations shared in the funding, but Main Street
Project wasn't one of them.

Main Street Project has an annual budget of $2.2 million. Aside from
the detox unit, there are 34 transitional beds for people waiting to
get into other programs, 20 cells for intoxicated people, and an
emergency shelter for 58.