Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jun 2005
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

WHITE SUPPORTS STAND ON HARM REDUCTION

Abbotsford MP Randy White has backed city council in its stand against using
harm reduction as a means to treat drug addicts.

Last week, Abbotsford's mayor and council unanimously voted to proceed with
a bylaw that will make it more difficult to set-up harm reduction facilities
in the city.

That would include methadone dispensing facilities not administered by a
pharmacist, supervised injection sites, needle exchanges and other types of
similar uses."

Council will now focus more heavily on enforcement, education and treatment.

While council's decision has been criticized by a number of harm-reduction
advocates, White has come to the city's defence.

I applaud the members of Abbotsford's city council for recognizing the
dangers harm reduction presents and rejecting it as a treatment option in
Abbotsford," White said.

In fact, these practices have led to increased drug use and production in
areas of Europe, and Canada may be next." White said it is sad and alarming"
that a harm reduction philosophy is undermining legitimate treatment such as
rehabilitation and abstinence."

In most cities addicts can pick up free needles and crack pipes, but access
to the kinds of treatment attacking the root of the problem are plagued by a
gross lack of resources to meet demand," he said.

White also believed that, even if harm reduction initiatives were welcomed
in Abbotsford, they would not be limited to needle exchanges. The spectrum
of harm reduction services include needles, crack pipes, wet housing - where
alcoholics are given alcohol hourly, and ultimately free drugs," White said.

These services must be exposed for what they truly are - dangerous,
temporary, contrary to the values of most Canadians, and certainly to the
residents of Abbotsford." 
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MAP posted-by: Josh