CALGARY WILL LAUNCH COURT FOR ADDICTS

CALGARY -- A Calgary lawyer says the city will start a separate
drug-treatment court, despite a lack of federal funding for the initiative.

Mark Tyndale, chairman of the committee working to set up the court,
said the group decided to "forge ahead without federal funds in a
Calgary-homegrown manner."

The court will enable selected drug addicts who are in trouble with
the law to undergo intensive treatment rather than serve jail time.

The federal government has funded four trials of similar courts in
Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina and Ottawa, at $1.6-million each over four
years.

The City of Calgary is contributing $10,000 in seed money for its
court, and will pay $200,000 over the next two years.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission and the Salvation Army
are on board to offer treatment and beds to successful applicants. Mr.
Tyndale said the pilot project will start May 10.

Alderwoman Madeleine King applauded the effort, but said it's a shame
the federal government isn't funding the initiative.

"Research from all over North America shows that just punishing drug
users doesn't achieve much in the long run because they just return to
the street after their sentences," Ms. King said.

"We have significant issues in Calgary and are a very significant
contributor to the federal economic success of Canada and we deserve
help and we need it."

Other jurisdictions with drug courts have seen a steep decline in the
number of drug users who reoffend after completing treatment, compared
to those who reoffend after going through the regular justice system.

Calgary has about 30 potential applicants -- who face jail terms but
aren't a threat to society -- for the pilot project, Mr. Tyndale said.

Intensive treatment will run 12 to 18 months for those with addictions
to cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other opiates.

"It's not a free card out of jail," Mr. Tyndale said.

"In fact, they have to do more work and have less freedoms than if
incarcerated."

The Alberta government is providing support to the program in the form
of probation officers and justice officials, but has not yet committed
any money.

Mr. Tyndale hopes the drug court's success will eventually prompt
federal funding and predicts every city in the country will one day
have its own drug-court program.