My recent columns on B.C.'s struggle with the growing westward migration of transients have produced responses that fall mainly into two groups. The largest is people relieved that somebody is questioning the urban media narrative. That's the one where drifters, drug addicts, welfare shoppers and thieves are the victims and working people, whose hard-earned communities are being degraded, are the problem because of their selfish, uncaring attitudes. Then there are readers so marinated in our nanny-state education, media and political system they object to anything other than a big-government response. They tend to ask, what's your solution, Tom? [continues 511 words]
An Edmonton group that's closely studied local drug use is working to establish the city's first supervised injection sites. Elaine Hyshka, a University of Alberta public health researcher and core member of Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services Edmonton, said group members envision a network of supervised injection services offered through organizations already working with homeless and disadvantaged people in Edmonton's core. "This is something that's long overdue in Edmonton and other cities," said Hyshka. " is service will literally save lives." [continues 931 words]
There appears to be a growing problem with drugs in both federal and provincial jails in Alberta with more emphasis on keeping information about this issue out of the public realm then keeping the narcotics from getting into the gaol. The latest death at the city remand centre earlier this year is an example of just how far authorities are willing to go when it comes to a clampdown on information pertaining to in-custody fatalities. No name was released or solid information about cause of death was provided, with provincial officials claiming privacy interests. [continues 486 words]
Four people are behind bars after a series of violent incidents - including a shooting and kidnapping - motivated by a downtown drug turf war, say police. Investigators believe the suspects, all of no fixed address, are linked to the attacks, meant to intimidate members of a rival drug network. One victim of the shooting was not involved in the drug trade and was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, Insp. Don Coleman said. "People involved in drug trafficking (were) trying to intimidate each other to get more space downtown," Coleman told reporters, adding that methamphetamine was the drug of choice. [continues 270 words]
Discarded needles are becoming an increasing problem in the downtown Duncan area. The city's public works department has sent a memo to businesses downtown that staff have been encountering a lot of discarded needles in the area that are being left in garbage cans, public washrooms, parks, trails and other sites. The memo stated that the number of discarded needles being found in the area is up to approximately two dozen a month, a dramatic increase from just six months ago. [continues 285 words]
It's concerning on a number of levels that the volume of used needles being found around town has seen a big spike in the last six months. About two dozen a month isn't a reason to panic, certainly, but it's enough to make us want to know why there's so many turning up in our public places all of a sudden. Make no mistake, it is highly unlikely that these needles are from random diabetics needing to give themselves insulin. [continues 284 words]
The Flat Bay Band Inc. is working on a project to develop a native addictions treatment centre in consultation with Memorial University and a local steering committee. The project got underway in November 2015 and is expected to wrap up in November of this year with a manuscript on the scope and nature of the treatment centre, recommendations on site locations and draft plans. Flat Bay Band Chief Liz LaSaga and the steering committee say there is insufficient research into native health statistics in the province. Along with Memorial, the research derived from this project will be a fundamental piece of evidence. The need for the Nujio'qonik Healing Center - named in recognition of the area in which it will be located, Bay St. George - has long been recognized. [continues 313 words]
It's been two-and-a-half years since a community campaign was launched to build a Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) site in Victoria to help prevent deaths from drug overdose. And now organizers of the Yes2SCS campaign feel they are one step closer towards turning that goal into a reality thanks to signs of change in federal legislation and talks with local stakeholders. According to Dr. Richard Crow, Island Health's executive medical director, the health authority has always supported the concept of a SCS being part of a range of prevention, treatment and harm reduction services/support for people living with addictions, but requires support from every level of government. [continues 582 words]
TORONTO - Hundreds of adoptions have been put on hold in Ontario as a provincially appointed commission reviews child protection cases involving flawed drug tests. The Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies said Monday between 200 and 300 cases have been flagged for review because they involved a now discredited program that used hair analysis to test for drug and alcohol use. Mary Ballantyne, the organization's CEO, said that includes cases where a child has been placed in an adoptive home but the adoption has not yet been finalized, as well as those where a child was eventually to be placed in an adoptive home. [continues 455 words]
The box came from Amsterdam. Casey Stone (pseudonym) and his three friends had waited weeks for the package to arrive. Finally, a Canada Post worker dropped off a brown box. It was addressed to one of Stone's friends and had just been flown in from the Dutch capital. Inside the box was a smaller box from a tea company. On top of it sat a letter from the tea company thanking the new customers for their patronage. They opened the box and pulled out a tea bag. Inside the bag was three grams of 3.4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, also known as Molly. [continues 1268 words]
Nearly 200 young British Columbians fatally overdosed in a fiveyear span, due largely to a delay in getting medical help. That is the key finding from a troubling new report from the BC Coroners Service, which found that while most of the young adults used drugs while they were alone, most teenagers used with others - increasing the possibility of getting medical help should something go wrong. However, they did not call 911, prompting health and police officials to do more to educate young drug users. [continues 599 words]
Guelph has a huge problem with crystal meth abuse. This community is more given to focusing on other significant issues such as the rate of local property taxation, whether to fund a replacement of the main library branch and managing frosh week rowdyism from early September bar goers. But the community has insignificantly grappled with how direly crystal meth abuse is impacting it. For police or folks who attend locally courts with any frequency this issue is no surprise. Meth-related crime is soaring in the community. In 2013 alone, there were 433 occurrences meth possession charges laid. That was up almost eight per cent from the previous year. [continues 303 words]
