Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 Source: Victoria News (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Victoria News Contact: http://www.vicnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267 CRACK IS DRUG OF CHOICE Victoria Dubbed 'Cracktown' By Drug Users While media reports and images thrust crystal meth into the spotlight in recent years, the drug of choice in Victoria remains crack-cocaine. So much so that Victoria has been nicknamed Cracktown by drug users and people connected with the local drug scene. "There's a lot of crack use in this city," said Sandra Brown, a drug and alcohol counsellor with the Cool-Aid Society. "From what I hear from people, it's more popular in the Victoria street community than in Vancouver." In her experience as a clinical counsellor, Brown says crack has always been the drug of choice here. "Some of the younger folks might have got more into the crystal meth scene," she said, but added crack dominates the scene. "A lot of crack users say crystal meth is junk and won't touch it." Const. Brian Rowan, a street crime investigator with Saanich police specializing in hard drugs, said that's true only half the time. "Some people addicted to crack have switched (to crystal meth) because of the price factor," he said. "A lot of crack users will say that (meth is junk), but the other half that have already switched won't say that." While Brown works primarily with Victoria's street community, meaning people without jobs or homes, or in unsafe housing, and often with addiction problems, Dave O'Brien is a counsellor working with University of Victoria students. He said substances conventionally known as hard drugs are uncommon at the university. Though marijuana use is a major player among students, cocaine comes up occasionally and is far more prevalent than crystal meth. "Cocaine comes through more exceptionally," O'Brien said. "There's not a large incidence (of users) coming through our door." - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath