A controversial bylaw to restrict how methadone is delivered was sent back to city staff for more information, with several councillors questioning whether the city has the authority to govern the dispensing of medicine. The Leader reported Sunday that the city solicitor was planning to introduce a bylaw that states "no person shall prescribe, sell, give or provide in any manner whatsoever, methadone for consumption anywhere but on the premises of a methadone dispensary or drug store." The bylaw is hoped to eliminate the illegal street trade of methadone, a drug commonly used to reduce the effects of heroin withdrawal. Physicians already require that newly recovering heroin addicts take the drug in front of a pharmacist, but as patients recover, they are allowed to take a few days' supply home, called "carries," so they can pursue more normal lives. [continues 377 words]
Surrey is preparing to restrict how pharmacies issue methadone, with a proposed bylaw that requires the drug be taken in front of pharmacists. But a doctor from the province's task force on addiction says the city is "arrogant" to think it can run medical services better than physicians. Surrey's public safety committee received a report this week that recommends "that no person shall sell ... methadone for consumption anywhere but on the premises of a methadone dispensary or drug store." [continues 536 words]
The future of Whalley's needle exchange will be the subject of debate between the city and regional health authority over the next month as the two parties explore alternate ways to deliver the service. Mayor Doug McCallum met last Wednesday with Dr. Gulzar Cheema, the provincial minister in charge of addictions services, and the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) to discuss the future of the Surrey's needle exchange. Last week, McCallum told a representative of the exchange he wanted the facility shut down "immediately," drawing criticism from health authorities and local MLAs. [continues 225 words]
Surrey's mayor wants to shut down the Whalley needle exchange "immediately," in favour of dispersed services through provincial health units. Critics of that plan say addicts will turn to sharing needles, contracting hepatitis C and HIV, driving up provincial health care costs. The proposed closure comes as part of Mayor Doug McCallum's "action team" campaign to clean up crime-ridden areas of Whalley. It involves a coordinated effort by several city departments, including bylaw, fire, RCMP, engineering and parks. [continues 722 words]
The mayor's plan to shut down Surrey's needle exchange before a viable alternative is explored is being blasted by local MLAs and several Surrey councillors. Mayor Doug McCallum told people in charge of the needle exchange last Monday that he wanted it shut down "immediately." Jim Bennett, who oversees the 135A St. facility, said the answer was an emphatic "no." Surrey-Whalley MLA Elayne Brenzinger is the lone local provincial representative who wants to see the needle exchange shut down in favour of a facility near the hospital. [continues 402 words]
Four methadone dispensaries are suing the city for what they feel is a "discriminatory" hike in business licence fees. Last October, the City of Surrey raised the annual cost of licences for methadone "dispensaries" from $195 to $10,000 to help defray policing and bylaw costs associated with the storefronts. The city was roundly criticized by members of the medical community and the B.C. Pharmacy Association, who equated it to "a time when we locked up epileptics." City solicitor Craig MacFarlane confirmed Thursday that four of the dispensaries have launched legal action. [continues 166 words]
Surrey Electors Team knew a month before November's election that 90 per cent of residents approved of use of drug-detecting dogs in schools. SET also had evidence most Surrey residents favour casinos in a destination-type area or convention centre. SET commissioned Winnipeg's Western Opinion Research to conduct a 40-question telephone survey of 400 residents prior to the election. The results gave the ruling civic party a good indication of the electorate's mood and what voters considered primary issues going into the campaign. [continues 411 words]
Half of the emergency ward visits at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) are drug- and alcohol-related, health authorities say, and 40 per cent of the hospital's entire patient load at any given time is in some way involved with chemical dependency. A November, 2000 report obtained by The Leader indicates that 50 per cent of the 75,000 people who come to the SMH emergency ward annually are there for drug-related reasons. It's costing taxpayers millions of dollars annually, acknowledges a representative with the Fraser Health Authority (FHA). The study conducted by SMH's Chemical Dependency Resource Team concluded that there's an "urgent" need to deal with the number of drug-related visits at SMH. [continues 606 words]
While debate continues over how many people visit Surrey Memorial Hospital's emergency room for drug-related reasons, the clinical director for the department says the numbers are "moot." There's a drug problem bringing people to the emergency ward, says Dr. Urbain Ip, who believes that a 50 per cent figure may be "a little high," but adds the exact number is irrelevant. "If it's 25 per cent, so what? If it's 50 per cent, so what? It's still a big problem, it's still huge," Ip says. [continues 560 words]
Surrey will now charge stand-alone methadone dispenaries $10,000 per year for an annual business licence, representing a 5,000 per cent increase. Surrey council voted nearly unanimously in favour of the hikes on Monday, with only Coun. Bob Bose dissenting. "It's punitive," Bose said Tuesday. "... what Surrey is doing is committing addicts to life of dependency - and I think that's morally indefensible." Coun. Dianne Watts said the bylaw isn't designed to limit access to methadone, but crafted to address public safety issues by reducing the concentration of methadone dispensaries in an area of Whalley. [continues 84 words]
A city task force is planning to build an integrated drug recovery centre beside Surrey Memorial Hospital in the next two years. The 22,000-sq.ft. building will include a detox facility with up to 12 beds, residents' services, employment services and a treatment area. The Leader has learned that a planning group with Surrey's drug-crime task force will be making a presentation to city council in the coming weeks, detailing the services offered at the $4-million facility, which will be located in the 13600-block of 94A Ave. Coun. Dianne Watts, who chairs the task force, confirmed Tuesday that the project is in the works. [continues 304 words]
Surrey schools may soon be subject to random patrols by drug dogs, particularly in the south, where teens dealing and possessing illegal drugs is a growing concern. The random dog patrol is one of the options being considered by Surrey's recently formed drug-crime task force, a group of 27 experts and elected officials seeking new ways to reduce substance abuse and its associated crime. Surrey school Trustee Heather Stilwell told The Leader Monday the use of dogs and random searches by school principals are both being considered as elements to tackle the issue. [continues 533 words]
Peninsula 'Hotbed For Drug Activity' Could Debut Locker Checks Drug dogs may soon prowl Surrey schools, particularly here in the south, where teens dealing and possessing illegal drugs is a growing concern. The random dog patrol is one option being considered by Surrey's new drug-crime task force, a group of 27 experts and elected officials looking for ways to reduce substance abuse and related crime. Surrey school trustee Heather Stilwell said Monday the use of dogs and random searches by principals are both being considered as tools to tackle the issue. [continues 202 words]
Drug dogs may soon prowl Surrey schools, particularly here in the south, where teens dealing and possessing illegal drugs is a growing concern. The random dog patrol is one option being considered by Surrey's new drug-crime task force, a group of 27 experts and elected officials looking for ways to reduce substance abuse and related crime. Surrey school trustee Heather Stilwell said Monday the use of dogs and random searches by principals are both being considered as tools to tackle the issue. [continues 204 words]
Methadone dispensaries in Surrey will pay 5,000 per cent more for business licences next year, as the city introduces its most expensive operating permit ever. Until now, enterprises that dispense methadone have been classified as pharmacies and paid $195 per year to operate. On Monday night, city council endorsed a corporate report recommending methadone dispensaries pay $10,000 per year to conduct business in Surrey. Currently, the maximum annual business licence fee is $3,000, charged to body rub parlors, pawn shops, adult entertainment stores and others. [continues 259 words]
A new task force will meet at the end of the month to discuss ways to enhance the city's drug treatment programs and reduce crime in Surrey. While it's being described as an unfettered flow of opinions, actions taken will stop short of the more controversial methods. Task force chair Coun. Dianne Watts said she's open to "a free exchange of ideas" coming from the members of the group, but she's not willing to endorse a safe-injection area where intravenous drug users can shoot up. [continues 171 words]
A task force will explore possible solutions to Surrey's problems with drug abuse and the resulting crime that comes with it. Mayor Doug McCallum confirmed Friday that an "action committee" has been authorized to explore ways to reduce the problems associated with drug abuse, especially in the Whalley core. The news comes days after Coun. Dianne Watts announced several initiatives she was pursuing, including the decentralization of the Whalley needle exchange, and the creation of a detox facility and other treatment programs to provide a "continuum of treatment." [continues 167 words]
Surrey will be home to a full range of drug and alcohol treatment facilities, if Coun. Dianne Watts can convince the provincial government and regional health authority it's a worthwhile investment. At the outset, Watts has the support of the Fraser Health Authority's chief medical officer, Dr. Roland Guasparini. He said the region needs a full complement of programs for people suffering from addiction. "We need these kinds of services," Guasparini told The Leader Thursday. Now that the province has given the health authorities autonomy on how they spend money, the time may be right to launch such initiatives, he said. "The opportunity exists now under the health authority (which) can now say 'we have the resources, we have the responsibility and accountability for these (services) - you have only one place to go now.'" [continues 380 words]
Surrey is moving toward shutting down Whalley's needle exchange in favour of other "delivery models" including the use of medical offices, retail outlets and a mobile van bringing new needles to addicts throughout the city. On Monday, city council unanimously endorsed Coun. Dianne Watts' motion to ask the provincial government to devise a new method of providing clean needles to intravenous drug users. The Whalley needle exchange arrived in Surrey in 1990 with the purpose of reducing the amount of diseases arising from using "dirty" needles including HIV and hepatitis. [continues 216 words]
The province officially backed out of "supportive recovery" last month, leaving Surrey city officials wondering how to regulate them. The province passed an order in council that as of Dec. 12, recovery homes "will no longer be required to comply with the Community Care Facilities Act." The Act, amended two years ago to include recovery homes, introduced for the first time strict operating guidelines, including on-site nursing, adequate diet and building requirements. That, in conjunction with a city bylaw, reduced the number of facilities in Surrey from more than 50 to 15. [continues 346 words]
The province is scrapping strict laws that regulate alcohol and drug recovery homes - a move that unravels years of work by the city and region. The Leader has learned that recently crafted legislation governing recovery homes will be axed, as part of the province's deregulation initiative. "We felt it was a piece of over-regulation that didn't make sense," B.C. Minister of Health Services Colin Hansen told The Leader Monday. "It wasn't producing the results that people want." [continues 601 words]
The province is scrapping strict laws that regulate alcohol and drug recovery homes - a move that unravels years of work by the city and region. Recently crafted legislation governing recovery homes will be axed, as part of the province's deregulation initiative. "We felt it was a piece of over-regulation that didn't make sense," B.C. Minister of Health Colin Hansen said Monday. "It wasn't producing results people want." The news surprised city officials and the chief licensing officer with the South Fraser Health Region. [continues 323 words]
Donald Briere has been sentenced to four years in a federal penitentiary for his role in a major marijuana grow operation. Briere was arrested in March 1999 when police found 113 kilograms of marijuana worth about $650,000 and $50,000 worth of marijuana grow equipment in a Surrey warehouse. Briere, a Marijuana Party candidate for Surrey-Tynehead in the May provincial election, pleaded guilty last year to several offences involving the multi-million dollar indoor pot operation, along with weapons-related charges. [continues 207 words]
The operator of a recovery house pulled the plug on his own project Monday, citing a need to work more closely with the community. Michael Wilson, who runs a 10-bed recovery home in Newton, abandoned a rezoning application at a public hearing Monday, saying the public has lost trust in social services providers. Wilson, executive director of Phoenix Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Education Society, told council he needs to attend to divisive issues within the community. Last week, city council approved a 68-bed homeless shelter complex at 6595 King George Hwy. despite overwhelming public opposition. [continues 222 words]
A dozen more Mounties will hit the streets later this year, bringing Surrey's detachment to 412 officers. Surrey politicians unanimously endorsed the added personnel at Monday night's council meeting. The new hires are made possible by savings from several other city departments, largely from vacant staff positions that have not yet been filled. It allows Surrey to spend $400,000 of the $1.8 million in savings for the new officers, while using the remainder to repay half the money borrowed to balance this year's budget. [continues 287 words]
The doors of recovery homes failing to comply with new regulations are about to closein the South Fraser Health Region. About 30 of the facilities have shut down, unable to afford the expensive renovations and program changes necessary for compliance. The situation has left addicts wandering the streets looking for help, addiction experts say. Susan Lewis closed her recovery home two years ago in the face of increasing regulations. Of her former addict clients, she says "almost all are loaded ... a lot of them are on Hastings Street." [continues 651 words]
Last week Donald Briere hoped to spend four years in the provincial legislature. Now he's hoping to avoid spending that length of time in a federal penitentiary. The Marijuana Party candidate for Surrey-Tynehead appeared in Surrey Provincial Court Wednesday for sentencing. Briere pleaded guilty on Dec. 4 last year to four criminal offenses connected to the operation of several marijuana grow operations, and two weapons-related offenses. Until last week, federal Crown counsel and Briere's lawyer agreed to a four-year jail term. [continues 173 words]
A week after the election, a local Marijuana Party candidate will be sentenced on criminal charges resulting from an extensive marijuana grow operation in Surrey and possession of an assault rifle. Donald Briere, a candidate in Surrey-Tynehead pleaded guilty Dec. 4 to growing and selling marijuana in addition to two weapons-related offences, The Leader has learned. He will be sentenced in Surrey Provincial Court May 23. Briere, 49, claims to be an example of the unjust state of Canadian law. [continues 524 words]
The Marijuana Party candidate for Surrey-Tynehead is facing a huge debt to the federal government for income tax owed. Don Briere was served papers by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency this week that force him to make good on more than $1.3 million in back taxes, The Leader has learned. A B.C. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Minister of Revenue is authorized to collect the money owed through any means available under the Income Tax Act. [continues 258 words]
Surrey is floating the concept of recovering the considerable costs of busting marijuana grow operations located in private homes. A five-year plan discussed last week includes the possibility of "cost recovery from property owners for illegal operations." It proposes that after police raid a local grow operation, the city would send the registered owners of the property a bill for the cost of the bust. While an exact figure on the potential revenue isn't known, Surrey officials estimate it would be in the thousands of dollars. [continues 112 words]
Pharmacies found paying methadone patients for their business will have their Pharmacare funding pulled, essentially putting the errant drug stores out of business. The restrictions come as part of a new health ministry funding formula announced Wednesday, that tightens the rules on how methadone-dispensing pharmacies conduct business. Effective May 1, pharmacists will receive payments for dispensing methadone in three forms, including: * Two cents per millilitre for the drug * The usual dispensing fee (about $5) * Plus $7.70 per patient, per visit. [continues 525 words]
North Surrey pharmacies offering cash for methadone prescriptions will lose provincial funding if a proposed agreement between the B.C. Pharmacy Association and Pharmacare is finalized in the coming weeks. Bob Kucheran, executive director of the B.C. Pharmacy Association, told The Leader Friday he's close to an agreement with the province on methadone funding. While he wouldn't provide specifics, he said the proposal includes a clause that would clamp down on unacceptable incentives. Last December, The Leader revealed that as many as four North Surrey pharmacies were offering up to $40 cash per month to patients for their methadone prescriptions. [continues 286 words]
Surrey Raves Have Been Banned. Despite pleas from rave party organizers and security personnel who work the events, city council voted 5-4 Monday to outlaw the all-night parties. Scott Blessin, operations manager for Slipstream Entertainment, a rave security firm, addressed council Monday, suggesting an all-out ban would simply keep "good" raves from coming to Surrey. City council is concerned about the ability to control large crowds of teens and the events' association with drugs. Blessin said reputable organizers control the crowds and frisk youth for drugs at the door. [continues 195 words]
A Cloverdale drug and alcohol recovery house has been granted provincial funding, ending a lengthy battle with Victoria to keep the 10-bed home running. Hardev Randhawa, director of Path to Freedom at 19030 Hwy. 10 said he was assured two years ago he would receive a $40 per diem (the daily allowance per client). He's fought for the last seven months to hold the province to that assurance. His plight was the subject of a Leader article Sunday. On Tuesday, representatives from the province assured Randhawa the money was on the way. [continues 305 words]
The City of Surrey has introduced a bylaw allowing it to shut down pharmacies offering cash for methadone prescriptions. It represents the first legislation in B.C. outlawing the practice. In December, a Leader investigation revealed that two, and as many as four, North Surrey pharmacies were paying heroin addicts cash for their methadone prescriptions. There are 19 pharmacies in Surrey and North Delta dispensing methadone, a drug commonly used to reduce the effects of heroin withdrawal. PharmaCare pays pharmacists $105 a month per patient for dispensing the drug. In addition, pharmacists charge between two and 50 cents per millilitre for the drug. [continues 381 words]
A complete ban of raves in Surrey has been postponed until civic representatives can hear from more party organizers. On Monday, Surrey council was prepared to outlaw the popular parties because of policing costs and the presence of drugs. Raves are all-night dance events, which typically involve youth, techno music - and for some participants, drugs such as Ecstasy. Typically found in pill form, Ecstasy is primarily methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine and has both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. Rave organizer Salim Lakhani told council Monday that an outright ban is the wrong idea - the parties will occur regardless. [continues 156 words]
Surrey's planned ban on rave parties will result in unsanctioned events that are more likely to see kids hurt, according to rave organizer Salim Lakhani. Raves are popular all-night dance parties, which typically involve youth, technomusic and Ecstasy. Typically in pill form, Ecstasy is mostly methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine and has both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. Because of the association with the youth and drugs, and the city's lack of manpower to police the large parties, Surrey's public safety committee wants an end to the events. [continues 147 words]
Addiction specialists are furious over a "discriminatory" Surrey bylaw that limits the location of methadone clinics to hospitals. "It sets methadone treatment back a good 10 years," says Peter Hickey, an executive director with the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons, the organization responsible for the province's methadone program. Hickey says Surrey's bylaw contradicts proven science about methadone treatment and says the legislation is discriminatory. "It borders, in a sense, on the interference in the practice of medicine. It's bizarre." [continues 544 words]
It wasn't the first time Irene had held a gun to someone's head. But this time was different. The man trembling at the barrel's end was a friend about to die because of a $40 drug debt. "A measly forty bucks," Irene says as she recalls her "moment of clarity." After committing dozens of armed hold-ups, witnessing a family friend shot dead, and beating up her mother, it was the barroom incident five years ago that finally convinced Irene her heroin habit was out of control. [continues 707 words]
Surrey is expected to ban rave parties from this municipality in the coming weeks as a way of controlling the distribution of dangerous drugs to teens. City officials discussed the notion of introducing a $5,000 permit fee for the parties, but have decided instead to push for an all-out ban. Coun. Dianne Watts says she'll be bringing the issue before her colleagues as soon as Monday. An international phenomenon, raves are a form of dance party, usually lasting through the night. Authorities have raised concerns about the presence of Ecstasy - crystal methamphetamine in pill form - frequently associated with rave parties. [continues 135 words]
A council decision to force methadone clinics to locate only next to hospitals is not in the best interest of recovering addicts, says the medical health officer for the region. Dr. Roland Guasparini, of the South Fraser Health Region told council Monday night as they considered final reading of the controversial bylaw, "I don't think I'd recommend a clinic be at a hospital." He said the facilities should be located where they're needed most. "I don't think this bylaw is going to do anything to help the health of the community." [continues 232 words]
Since a controversial "pot grow" bylaw was implemented last July, the City of Surrey has billed 43 Surrey landlords for police and fire costs associated with arrests at marijuana grow operations. Surrey Mounties call the law an effective deterrent, but critics of the law call it unconstitutional and vulnerable to legal challenge. For the city it's meant recuperating more than $45,000 spent on arresting suspects, and cleaning up properties used for growing marijuana. For landlords, most of them absentee, it has resulted in bills ranging from $500 to $2,500, depending on the size of the operation and the amount of clean up required. [continues 415 words]
