MORE METH DISPENSARIES SHOULD SEE FEWER PROBLEMS, SAYS WATTS

Fewer problems are expected in Whalley now that more pharmacies throughout
the city will be offering methadone, city officials say.

For years, the city has asked the College of Pharmacists to reduce the
concentration of methadone services in North Surrey, particularly methadone
dispensaries which exist primarily to supply that medication.

Methadone is a synthetic opiate commonly used to reduce the effects of
heroin withdrawal, but is sometimes prescribed for pain management.

Surrey officials believe the "dispensaries" have attracted drug dealers and
associated crime to the Whalley core.

"Absolutely," said Coun. Dianne Watts. "Around the methadone dispensaries we
were seeing a number of less desirable activities going on, including drug
dealers who were actively targeting the clients."

She also says the dispensing practices in some cases are questionable.

Several of the dispensaries in the Lower Mainland have been investigated by
the B.C. College of Pharmacists.

Documents obtained by The Leader through Freedom of Information, indicate
the college has launched nine methadone-related investigations in the past
seven years. The documents don't indicate where the pharmacies are located,
but at least two of them are in North Surrey.

Dr. Brenda Osmond, deputy registrar for the college, said Thursday the
regulatory body annually investigates an average of 130 complaints on
various dispensing irregularities involving a variety of drugs.

She said the number of methadone complaints is not out of line with those
regarding other medications.

The investigations into methadone pharmacies concerned allegations including
unauthorized dispensing, dispensing without a doctor's authorization and
giving patients money for their business. Two of those cases involved
fatalities, one in which a patient's brother took the drug and died.

In all but one case, the College of Pharmacists accepted the druggist's
explanation. In the one instance where the college took action, a formal
reprimand was issued.

Osmond said the burden of proof in these cases needs to be beyond a
reasonable doubt, which isn't easy to meet.

Watts believes the College of Pharmacists is doing the best they can with
the resources they have.

"I would like to see some more cooperation with the RCMP in some of those
instances," Watts said.

Osmond agreed and said her group is working closer with the Mounties on
investigations into methadone-dispensing pharmacies.

Meanwhile, the college is working to get more pharmacies to join the
voluntary program. Five more pharmacies that are part of major drug store
chains now offer methadone to patients.

The College of Pharmacists estimates the new stores will take 30 per cent of
the business from the North Surrey dispensaries.

"Now you don't have the high concentration of clients going there, then that
decreases the problems," Watts said. "When that population is decreased,
it's not viable for the drug dealers to be where they are. We've already
seen a significant improvement."

There are now 30 pharmacies accepting methadone patients in Surrey, while
the number of patients remains the same.