NO REGRETS ON DRUG ABUSE STANCE

Philip Owen is a man of strong opinions and he doesn't hesitate to share
them with you at a moment's notice, especially when it comes to the subject
of drug abuse.

"Do we carry on the way we are and not do anything or do we accept the fact
that the user is sick and the drug dealer is evil, especially the drug
dealers that are not users?" asks Owen, rhetorically.

The longtime former civic politician from Vancouver will be in Kelowna
Friday as part of the panel discussion following the documentary Fix by
filmmaker Nettie Wild.

He believes there has been a change of attitude toward drug addiction and
the failed war on drugs amongst everyday people.

"There is huge public interest in the issue of drug policy reform," Owen says.

He advocates the four-pillar approach; prevention, treatment, enforcement
and harm reduction.

"Prevention is education. Teach kids about drugs before they're 11 or 12
instead of waiting until they discover it themselves," says Owen.

"Treatment means helping those that are addicted instead of wallowing
around urban centres without any attention. Enforcement is where police go
after the drug dealers, not the users."

Owen's support for the last pillar, harm reduction, is what some say cost
him his job as Vancouver mayor when his own party, the Non-Partisan
Association, refused to nominate him for reelection. In an ironic twist,
former coroner Larry Campbell took the job, largely on a platform similar
to Owen's.

"Harm reductions are things like the needle exchange, methadone, safe
injection sites," Owen ticks off.

Owen has little time for the conservative view that providing these things
will only cost the taxpayer more money.

"If you want to have taxes continue to go up, then continue to ignore the
problem," he says. "Taxes will continue to go up because the social costs
will be astronomical."

He's blunt in his assessment of the war on drugs.

"We haven't been winning this war in the last 20 years so it's time to
adjust our thinking," says Owen.

"There are four choices and only one works. You can't incarcerate your way
out of it. The jails are already full. You can't legalize your way out of
it. The world isn't ready for that yet. You can't ignore it so you must
manage it."

Owen urges people to open their minds to the possible solutions to a
problem that plagues Kelowna whether they want to see it or not.

"It makes sense to talk it through with a calm heart and a peaceful mind."

Fix is showing in Kelowna Friday to Sunday at the Paramount Theatre.

All shows except the 9:30 p.m. screening, will be followed with a moderated
panel discussion.