Pubdate: Wed, 26 Oct 2005
Source: Ryersonian, The (CN ON Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Ryersonian
Contact:  http://stw.ryerson.ca/~sonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2654
Author: Michelle McQuigge, staff writer

DRUG KIT HANDOUT PLANS MOVE A STEP CLOSER TO CAMPUS

Five years ago, Ryerson counselor Walter Cavalieri worked as a
volunteer, handing out crack kits to local drug users.

Little did he know that his volunteer work could soon become standard
practice in Toronto area neighbourhoods, including the streets around
the Ryerson campus.

Toronto's board of health voted unanimously in favour of a
controversial drug strategy yesterday that Cavalieri helped draft,
bringing the plan one step closer to reality.

Toronto city council must still vote on whether to approve the
comprehensive Toronto Drug Strategy. That is expected to happen this
month or next.

Cavalieri worked with City Councilor Kyle Rae and others to draft the
plan.

Among the report's 66 recommendations are two controversial
suggestions related to drug use. One states that people be allowed to
carry small amounts of marijuana without fear of arrest, while the
other stipulates that social service agencies be permitted to
distribute crack kits to their clients.

Cavalieri says that these two recommendations address facts that most
people choose to ignore, particularly in the university
environment.

"People do use drugs and have for a long time," he said. "Not
prosecuting people for carrying pot prevents them from getting in
trouble needlessly, and handing out crack kits is a crucial step in
harm reduction."

Cavalieri credits a similar program in Frankfurt, Germany for reducing
the crime rate and the number of deaths due to a drug overdose.

He also cites Ottawa as one Canadian city that has already launched
initiatives for safer drug use. Opponents of the Toronto Drug Strategy
contend that easy access to drug paraphernalia would put non-users at
risk of becoming involved with drugs.

Detective Sergeant Gordon Sneddon of the Plain Clothes office says
that making drug tools available would be the worst possible way to
approach the problem.

"It's going to make it easier for people to experiment and get
involved with drugs," said Sneddon. "Making it easier for people to
become involved with one of the most addictive drugs out there is nonsense."

But Kim Roth, manager of the homeless shelter at 60 Richmond St.,
disagrees.

Her shelter is located near Ryerson, and she says that students would
not be enticed into a drug-oriented lifestyle if crack kits are
readily available.

"Students are at less risk," Roth said. "They have groups and
communities they belong to. They're familiar with deadlines and
structure, they have coping mechanisms already. Most drug users don't
have any of that."

Roth believes that promoting acceptance and tolerance is key to
treating drug users and says that permitting marijuana or handing out
drug equipment fosters a more positive environment for both users and
those trying to help them.

"If someone comes in for a crack pipe, it's easier to start talking to
them and to develop a relationship," Roth said. "By talking to people
and being able to control the drug use, we can hopefully come to a
better understanding of the problem by studying it better."

Kyle Rae, who is the city councillor in the ward where Ryerson is
located, agrees that further study is essential. His report did not
recommend safe consumption sites where users could get high without
arrest. Rae said that more research was needed before such things were
put in place.

Rae acknowledged that the area around Ryerson is a prime target for
the Toronto Drug Strategy and says that some steps have already been
taken to decrease risk in the neighbourhood.

"There are already some harm reduction initiatives happening around
Ryerson," said Rae. "We already have needle exchanges and free condom
distribution. Handing out crack pipes would be included in that."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin