MPS CALL FOR SAFE INJECTION, NEEDLE EXCHANGE SITES

Severe Addicts Need 'Care, Support'

Ottawa - Heroin addicts should have safe-injection sites and expanded
needle-exchange programs that could save their lives, says a parliamentary
panel dominated by Liberals.

And two prisons should be converted into treatment centres for addicts
serving time, the all-party committee on non-medical drug use recommended
Monday. It did not suggest specific locations.

In a report to be released Thursday, the 13 MPs are also expected to urge
easing restrictions on marijuana possession.

Not all committee members agreed with Monday's recommendations, and the
Canadian Police Association raised alarms.

Canadian Alliance MPs said providing legal shooting galleries is going too far.

"We're not suggesting anyone be soft on drugs," countered Liberal MP Paddy
Torsney, head of the committee.

But she stressed that while illicit drug use is a crime, it's also a health
issue.

Ottawa needs to spend significantly more on related health costs and
educate the public about legal and illicit drugs, Torsney said.

The committee provided no cost estimates for its 39 recommendations.

Health Canada's $104-million drug strategy is underfunded and must be
beefed up with a national public awareness campaign, Torsney said.

In total, Ottawa spends about $500 million a year to fight illicit drug
use, most of it on police enforcement.

Yet, current efforts are failing to thwart prison drug suppliers or ease
the human toll of addiction in the general public, Torsney said.

Whether the substance is legal or not, the most severe addicts warrant
help, she said.

"They're somebody's brother or sister and they're deserving of our care and
support."

The committee says Ottawa should "remove any federal regulatory or
legislative barriers" to ease the way for safe-injection sites and to track
how well they work.

Health Canada pre-empted the committee last week when it issued guidelines
for how safe-injection drug sites will operate at pilot sites, likely in
Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

Such "harm-reduction" strategies revolve around the idea that at least drug
users can be monitored and put in touch with health workers.

Police point out that crime is frequently the means by which addicts get
their drugs.

Torsney says to get around that, Ottawa should study treatment models
whereby the government itself supplies the drug in a safe setting.

Laws would have to be changed to allow such exceptions, and police would
need clear guidelines on the rules surrounding such places.

"We're sliding down a slippery slope," said David Griffin, executive
officer of the Canadian Police Association.

Police would have to grapple with neighbours' complaints and otherwise
criminal drug users heading to and from legal injection sites, he said.

Torsney pointed out that open drug use in parks and alleys is worse than
safe-injection sites.

But Canadian Alliance MP Randy White, vice-chairman of the committee, said
such proposals aid rather than cure heroin addiction.

So-called "harm-reduction" measures are wrong-headed and send a confusing
message, he said.

"They will maintain a chemical dependency to dangerous and illicit drugs
over a much longer period of time."

White said he toured similar programs in Europe.

"I saw human carnage for blocks, as well as a substantial gathering of
addicts and pushers in the areas where trafficking and using were
reluctantly permitted."

Other committee recommendations include:

A drug commissioner to oversee a new national strategy and report each year
to Parliament.

National surveys every two years to track use of legal and illicit substances.

More study of prescription drug use.

Seizing the property of drug dealers and using part of proceeds for treatment.

It's now up to the government to act on the committee's recommendations or
shelve them.

Illicit drugs are estimated to result in $5 billion a year in health care,
lost productivity, property crime and police costs.