MEETING OVER METHADONE

Watch for The Leader's special section, 'The methadone question,' in the
April 6 issue.

The delivery of methadone services in Surrey will the focus of a meeting
between provincial health officials and city representatives today (Friday).

Council has expressed significant concern over the emergence of
"dispensaries" that primarily exist to provide methadone to recovering
heroin addicts.

Late last year, Surrey increased the licence fees for the dispensaries from
$195 per year to $10,000.

On Monday, council is expected to hear input from the public on a bylaw
that would give police unfettered access to methadone client lists.

After that legislation was recently given preliminary approval, civic
officials called a meeting with representatives of the ministry of health,
the B.C. College of Physicians, the B.C. College of Pharmacists, and
several other professionals who run the methadone program in the province.

Mayor Doug McCallum said Wednesday that he'll be looking for concrete
solutions to the number of dispensaries in North Surrey that are accused of
bringing associated problems, including addictions to other drugs, drug
dealers and property crime, to the area. The Leader will publish an
eight-page special report on Sunday, examining the controversial methadone
program in-depth.