MP PUSHES FOR DRUG STRATEGY

Abbotsford MP Randy White has reaffirmed his call for a national drug
strategy following an announcement that the number of overdose-related
deaths in B.C. has increased in 2004.

According to White, preliminary figures issued by the British Columbia
Coroners Service reveal an increase in the number of people who have
died from drug overdoses in the past year.

A total of 44 people died from January to September of this
year,compared to 41 for the same period in 2003, White said.

A safe injection site-- called INSITE--was opened in Vancouver last
year, but according to the Conservative MP, it has failed in its
pledge to "help reduce the deaths of drug addicts."

"I would seriously question the ability of injection sites to tackle
the drugs problem in this country," White said. "Not only have they
failed to curtail drug deaths, they have not placed the focus of their
resources on people getting off drugs, preferring to keep them on drugs."

According to White, a recent study by INSITE--which is located on East
Hastings Street--reports that only 6.3 per cent of addicts using the
facility have been referred for treatment, while one per cent have
been sent to detox facilities.

"It's not enough to cover up the problem with so called 'harm
reduction,' " White said.

"This is a clear indication that Canada needs a national drug strategy
to prevent this kind of tragedy, and safe injection sites are not the
answer."

White's comments contradict the message sent out by the Vancouver
Coastal Health Authority.

Commenting in September on a report penned by the team responsible for
evaluating the three-year pilot project, the authority said the site
was "exceeding expectations" in terms of client volumes and
satisfaction, and referrals to addiction services and treatment.

"Based on what we see in the report, INSITE has saved lives and
improved lives," VCHA president and chief executive officer Ida
Goodreau said.

According to the report, two to four clients each day are being
referred to addiction treatment facilities, with at least one per week
being referred to programs that provide methadone maintenance treatment.