DRUG OF CHOICE TENDS TO 'EBB AND FLOW'

Quinte West has been dubbed a crack cocaine "hot spot in eastern
Ontario," according to information recently presented to the Police
Services Board, but those who help people dealing with addictions say
it's another step in a constantly changing cycle.

Cate Sutherland, executive director of the Addictions Centre Hastings
and Prince Edward Inc., said "The drug of choice tends to ebb and
flow. It's related to availability. Several years ago, heroin was
readily available in the area.

"Any substance of abuse, except alcohol, tends to develop a pattern.
Alcohol and cannabis are the primary drugs we deal with, but there's a
lot more (cocaine) around now than last year. Then again, it was also
prevalent in the late 80s."

Sutherland said simple economics - price and availability -
determine which drugs tend to appear on the street. "If there's lots
around and it's cheap, we'll see more of it."

More difficult to determine is exactly why certain drugs become
cheaper and more accessible. "That's something I suppose you'd have to
discuss with someone selling it."

Sutherland said she has no doubt the police are the ones who see drug
use at its most prominent. "There's a big difference between police
and centre. They see it at its worst. We don't see the effects of it
being on the street immediately; we might not start seeing clients
until well afterward."

The Addiction Centre has two sites (residential and outpatient) in
Belleville, as well as satellite offices in the area. Clients are both
referred to and come directly to the centre. There are no fees, and
everything is confidential.

"The misconception is that we require everyone to abstain from
everything. That's not necessarily true," Sutherland said.

"The main focus is harm reduction; to reduce or eliminate the problems
being caused. We ask the client, 'What do you want to change?' and
sometimes the answer is to eliminate the alcohol or substance. But
we're solution-focused."

The Belleville outpatient site is located at 218 Front St. (upstairs)
in Belleville, and is open Monday to Thursday from 8:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
and Friday from 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. It offers standardized addiction
assessment; outpatient counselling and treatment for persons concerned
with their or someone else's substance use or gambling and assists to
develop individual treatment plans based on client needs and
preferences. New clients are always accepted.