ADDICTION NEEDS TO BE SEEN AS HEALTH ISSUE - DAVIES

The Harper government's policy on combatting drug abuse in Canada
needs to recognize addiction is a public health issue instead of
treating those affected as criminals, an NDP critic says.

Libby Davies, Vancouver East MP and federal NDP spokeswoman on drug
policy, said she believes the federal Conservatives drug strategy is
in danger of mirroring policies adopted by the United States, which
sees those caught in the web of substance abuse end up in jail instead
of treatment centres.

"The four pillars of a drug strategy have been prevention, treatment,
harm reduction and treatment.

"The Conservative government is planning on dropping harm reduction,"
she told the Star while she was in Whitehorse this week.

Davies said when the Conservative government announced their drug
prevention strategy in their latest budget there was no mention of
harm reduction strategies, such as a safe injection site located in
her riding.

She said she was concerned the Harper government was taking a "drugs
are bad" stance on the issue and were looking to police instead of
addictions' counselors to combat the problem.

"I'm very concerned that Mr. Harper's government is planning to
abandon harm reduction.

"If you criminalize drug users who are dealing with health issues it
doesn't work. The evidence is clear in the US WAR on Drugs; that's a
colossal failure."

Davies said there needs to be a number of initiatives to try to get
people on drugs into treatment, instead of into jail as the people
seeking treatment were less likely to reoffend.

She said there were a number of Canadians who became involved in the
justice system as a result of drugs.

According to 2006 figures from Statistics Canada, there were 96,164
recorded drug offences nationally (as recorded by police agencies) -
including production, trafficking, importation and/or possession -
representing 294.77 offences per 100,000 people.

Yukon was more than 50 per cent higher than the national average at
467.51 per 100,000 people, or 146 actual offences.

Davies said she has been hearing from a number of groups in Whitehorse
who say the lack of local treatment services, lack of affordable
housing options and homelessness are primary concerns.

"What I'm hearing from these people is that it's a struggle," Libby
said. "These are things we are hearing from across the country."

She said social programs and education would go a lot further into
combatting drug use, and those affected by it, than more police, jails
and lawyers.

Barbara Powick, the executive of Kaushee's Place, a women's transition
home in Whitehorse, said drug and alcohol can often be factors in
cases of abuse.

She said what her organization would like to see from the federal
government is more money for housing as Kaushee's place has on
occasion been running over capacity. "There's certainly pressure on
women to get things together in a shorter period of time.

"We don't necessarily turn people away."

She said she's disappointed the federal government hasn't made money
available for affordable housing.

"We need a second stage building, we need a building that's separate
from the transition home.

"We've got five apartments now, but they're always
full."

The territorial government needs to boost social assistance payment
levels if people in need of affordable housing are to find it.

"If a women has two children, it's not realistic they'll find a house
for $700 a month.

"Social assistance rates need to be raised to reflect the market," she
said.

Ross Findlater, of the Yukon Anti-poverty Coalition, said this morning
that he also feels social assistance rates need to rise.

"Social assistance rates are now in their 16th year since they were
increased.

"The price of fresh foods and rent is rising."

He said more money is needed from the federal government for
homelessness programs and the territory requires a homeless shelter
for youth.

He said for NGOs running social programs, longer-term funding and
commitments from all political levels are needed to ensure programs
can continue to be planned an operated.