CITY ACTION ON DRUGS INADEQUATE, REPORT SAYS

Toronto needs to tackle its growing drug-abuse problems -- with
alcohol and crack cocaine at the top of the list -- with a strategy
proved elsewhere that brings everyone to the table, including police,
health officials and governments, according to a major report
obtained by The Globe and Mail.

The authors of the report, which is scheduled to be released today,
conclude that the current mix of one-off measures and disjointed
government action is inadequate when drugs like crystal
methamphetamine appear in Toronto.

"Crystal meth arrived on the scene two years ago and we have no idea
how to respond to it," said city councillor Kyle Rae (Toronto
Centre-Rosedale), the chairman of the Toronto Drug Strategy Advisory
Committee. "We don't know what to say about it, we don't know enough
about it, we don't know where it is getting into the community and
who is affected by it."

Two other top recommendations, among a total of 66 in the report, are
expected to draw political fire.

One supports passage of already-proposed federal legislation to
decriminalize the consumption of small quantities of cannabis for
personal use. The 45-member committee also calls for tougher
enforcement of traffickers.

The other recommends that drug users, especially those who smoke
crack cocaine, have access to clean equipment to reduce the spread of
hepatitis C.

On the most controversial remedy -- safe sites for addicts to consume
drugs under supervision -- the committee decided more study is needed.