VANCOUVER MAYOR LAUDS DRUG PLAN

Miller Says Consumption Sites Will Be Studied

Residents Complain Their Voices Not Heard

The mayor who made drug strategy a key part of his administration in
Vancouver has high praise for Toronto's proposed four-pronged strategy,
which includes a proposal to study "supervised consumption sites" for addicts.

Toronto's policy and finance committee endorsed the strategy after hearing
it lauded by Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell.

"I love this document," Campbell told the committee. "I think that Toronto
is showing courage and is showing leadership."

The committee proposed the 66-point strategy unanimously. The only note of
dissent came from Councillor Gerry Altobello (Ward 35, Scarborough
Southwest), who disagreed with a recommendation to decriminalize possession
of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

But some downtown Toronto residents said parts of the strategy that deal
with "harm reduction" will only make life worse for neighbourhoods plagued
by drug use, prostitution and thefts.

Campbell said that over the long haul, prevention and treatment are the
keys, although at times the emphasis may have to fall on police to clean up
drug-riddled neighbourhoods.

"I don't think you should get hung up on consumption sites," Campbell told
councillors.

"Society has to come to realize that addiction is a health issue and not a
criminal issue," said Campbell, whose term as mayor expires Dec. 5. He has
been named to the Senate.

Campbell argued that safe consumption sites are a good financial deal
because they prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, diseases that cost
the medical system $150,000 a year for each patient. The sites are also a
link that some users will use to get treatment for addiction, he said.

Toronto's most severe drug problems are crack cocaine and alcohol abuse,
according to the city's drug strategy. Alcohol was hardly mentioned during
the debate. The strategy recommends handing out equipment to crack users,
who often have mouth infections and may spread disease by sharing pipes.

Altobello said decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana
sends a bad signal.

"As a parent, if my kids -- hopefully it never happens -- are doing this
and the police see them doing it, I would rather the police pick them up
and bring them to jail than to just ignore it and walk by," he said.

Mayor David Miller said the strategy correctly treats addiction as a health
issue.

"The question is, are we going to treat addicts as human beings and people,
as sons and daughters and parents?" he said. "If they've got an addiction,
they need help."

Miller said he's unsure whether safe consumption sites are right for
Toronto, "but I can't in good conscience say we shouldn't study it. We have
to look at it."

Some downtown residents complained they were ignored as the strategy was
drafted.

"The process was dominated by insiders and lobbyists, representing
organizations that have received or are likely to receive funding for
projects or services covered within the scope of the Toronto Drug
Strategy," said Howard Bortenstein, who lives in the Don Vale-Cabbagetown
neighbourhood.

"Harm reduction" measures were also criticized.

"There is no such thing as safe use of crack," agreed Suzanne Edmonds of
the Corktown Residents and Business Association. Drugs have pushed some
neighbourhoods into a precarious state and allowing safe consumption sites
"will push us over the edge," she said.

If council approves the strategy, it will set up an implementation
committee with staff from the city, school board, Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health, coroner's office, public health service and street agencies
as well as police and prosecutors.

WITH files from paul moloney