STEPPED-UP WAR ON ILLEGAL DRUGS URGED

Province Must Do More About Illegal Prescription Drug Use - MacLeod

GLACE BAY - The chief of Cape Breton Regional Police says he can't
fight prescription drug-related crime if the province doesn't step in
and help.

Chief Edgar MacLeod made the comment Friday at a news conference,
seated behind a desk laden with prescription drugs, stolen wallets and
rings, used syringes, spoons, lighters money, and scratch tickets -
all evidence in the case against four people arrested Thursday night.

Chief MacLeod said the case was a shining example of why the province
can't ignore the problem.

Two men and two women, all in their 20s and all residents of Glace
Bay, were arrested Thursday night. One of the men was remanded to Cape
Breton Correctional Centre. Two of the other suspects have been
released on conditions, and the other was released with charges pending.

Police expect to lay as many as 20 charges, including possession of
stolen property, theft, attempted theft and fraudulent use of credit
cards.

The arrests followed a week-long investigation of thefts in Sydney and
Glace Bay. A vehicle and two boxes of drug paraphernalia and stolen
items were seized in the investigation.

Chief MacLeod said it was "sad" to see the number of marks on the arms
of one of the female suspects. He said they're scars from "jonesing to
get a fix," lingo for melting prescription drugs like OxyContin on a
spoon, then injecting the liquefied drug.

Last year, Chief MacLeod said, 12 people died suddenly due to drugs or
alcohol. He said that's appalling when you consider the regional
municipality's population is only about 100,000.

"Things are getting worse," he said. "These are not your stereotypical
drug users. There are now young girls committing violent crimes and
theft for drugs."

In the last year, there've been four drug-related homicides, and 10
drug-related attempted homicides.

"Our officers are on the streets 24 hours a day dealing with this," he
said.

Chief MacLeod wants two things right away.

He wants the provincial Justice and Health departments to send experts
to the municipality to study the area's drug and alcohol problems.

"That way we can have a clear idea of exactly what we're dealing
with," he said.

The second thing he says the community needs is a computerized
prescription drug monitoring program to track who's getting which
drugs from which doctor and when he or she is getting them.

But Health Minister Angus MacIsaac said Friday the crux of the issue
is what happens to the drug after it leaves pharmacies.

"This is a problem that is primarily due to what happens to the
pharmaceutical after it leaves the pharmacist's counter and gets into
the hands of the consumer."

He said computerized tracking technology would be faster than the
current system but isn't a better way to monitor what happens to the
drug after it's dispensed.

"The real question here is, what is going to resolve the abuse
problem? And improving the handling of information may assist to a
small degree."

But Mr. MacIsaac echoed recent comments by Justice Minister Michael
Baker that double-doctoring is a problem.

"There are people out there who are receiving prescriptions from more
than one source."

He also said there may be sources other than pharmacists, suggesting
drugs could be being brought in from other provinces or countries.

"Those are questions that the community really has to deal
with."

Asked if his department intends to contribute to a task force on the
issue, he said, "if the community wants an initiative, that's up to
them."

Chief MacLeod said he's prepared to meet again and even brainstorm
with Mr. MacIsaac and Mr. Baker about this issue. But he doesn't think
that will happen soon.

"I don't mean to point fingers here ... but it seems to me that there
isn't a same sense of urgency, the same sense of importance with (the
provincial departments). I'm not sure that there's even recognition
that there is a problem here," he said.

He said he also wants to work closely with the province and local
agencies to strengthen education and prevention programs in the community.