MONTREAL TO HOLD FIRST WORLD FORUM ON DRUGS AND DEPENDENCIES IN SEPTEMBER

MONTREAL (CP) - Montreal will host the first World Forum on Drugs and
Dependencies in September, drawing an expected 3,000 delegates from 50
countries and as many fields of expertise.

The scope is wide and the problem pressing, organizers said
Thursday.

"More and more people are affected, both at home and abroad, and at a
younger age," said Luc Chabot, co-ordinator of the Centres Jean
Lapointe for Teenagers and executive director of the Forum, to be held
at the convention centre Sept. 22 to 27.

"Despite all our efforts, young people are breaking all records in
terms of consumption."

But the forum by no means is limited to youths or illicit
drugs.

From doping in sports to raves in Spain, from binge-drinking to
problem gambling, from international drug rings to heroin users on the
streets of Montreal, nothing is outside an agenda that hopes to
balance law enforcement with prevention, local strategies with global
truths.

"Substance abuse exacerbates all other social problems and has an
impact on everything from terrorism and organized crime to human
suffering," Chabot explained.

But before delegates tackle the ramifications of drug abuse, their
first challenge will be to define it.

"What is problem use?" said Daniel Sansfacon, director of research for
the Canadian Senate's committee on illegal drugs. "People don't all
have the same answers."

In the case of marijuana, problem use is defined as use alone, in the
morning, or at work or school.

"But you can have so-called problem use and not be
dependent."

Sansfacon hopes the forum will bridge the gap between knowledge of
drugs and policy.

"Whether it's national policies, or United Nations policies, they are
based on myths or special interests, like the pharmaceutical industry.
It's much better to take a Valium every night than light up a joint,
isn't it?"

Already the forum has attracted an impressive array of participants,
from the World Health Organization to Portage rehabilitation centres,
from the government of Nunavut to the republic of Slovenia.

The RCMP's second in command, deputy commissioner Rene Charbonneau
will attend too, to prepare recommendations for the UN's 2003
declaration on drugs.

"People think of the police as carrying guns and handcuffs,"
Charbonneau said. "But we're also taking people to the hospital and
we're down every back alley in Canada. We know the heroin addict on
the corner needs medical help more than jail."