STUDY URGES SAFE DRUG-USER SITES

It will take about $15 million over five years -- some of it to set
up safe drug injection sites -- to fix a growing drug problem in
London's core, city staff told a council committee yesterday.

About one-third of the money -- $1 million a year for five years --
would come from local tax dollars, the rest from federal and
provincial governments, community services manager Ross Fair said.

A study requested by council estimates there are about 1,500 homeless
people on London streets, while only 360 shelter beds are available.
About 40 per cent of shelter users have addictions and 18 homeless
people have died of an overdose this year.

Meanwhile, the wait for an addictions treatment bed is six to eight
months, council's community and protective services committee was told.

There's also growing concern from residents and business owners about
rising numbers of homeless on London streets, drug dealers and
needles left in parks, on streets and private property.

Safe injection sites would allow substance abusers to inject needles
in set-aside sites provided the federal government issues a waiver on
illegal drug use. The aim of the sites is to reduce the number of
loose needles found throughout downtown, Fair said.

There is a Canadian one in Vancouver, he said.

But the idea was a hard sell for some.

"I see it as the government being complicit in the drug trade," said
Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen, who sits on the council committee. "For
the government to be complicit in that kind of activity is wrong."

Other councillors said the problem has grown too big for a city such
as London and something needs to be done.

Safe injection sites "are one means to end the problem," said Coun.
David Winninger. "It is a controversial issue."

But if the sites help reduce the problem of needles strewn throughout
the city's core, the tax dollars will be "extremely well spent."

The only question, he said, is where to put the sites.

Fair said Health Canada estimates show drug addiction costs the city
an estimated $243 million a year in hospital and jail costs and lost
income by addicts who can't keep a job, Fair said.

Other suggestions to help combat the problem include:

. More beds in emergency shelters

. More police who patrol the downtown core

. More detoxification and treatment programs

. Earlier drug prevention programs in schools

. Needle exchanges, needle drop boxes and overdose prevention campaigns

A full report comes to the council committee Oct. 29 and a public
meeting to discuss a drug abuse strategy for the city is scheduled for Nov. 26.

The committee is expected to decide whether to refer the strategy to
council for the 2008 budget process before year's end.