Experts end three-day crystal meth conference armed with more information

Experts end three-day crystal meth conference

Greg Joyce
Canadian Press

See Also: Crystal Meth News and Forum

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

VANCOUVER (CP) - Users of the highly addictive and increasingly popular drug crystal methamphetamine can be treated successfully, experts concluded following a three-day conference on the synthetic drug.

"It's a difficult road but we heard from experts that it is possible to treat meth users and there is hope of reversing serious damage caused," said chairwoman Joanna Ashworth at the conclusion of the Western Canadian Summit on Methamphetamine.

The three-day conference didn't conclude with any significant announcements but a panel will continue to work on a "consensus document" to try to map a strategy to fight the invasive drug.

Increase in disabled benefits still doesn't cover Liberal cuts

Victoria News

By Brennan Clarke

Cash-strapped disabled people aren't about to turn down extra money from the provincial government.

Then again, the benefits of the extra money have to be weighed against a range of other Liberal cutbacks that have dipped into the disposable income of disabled people, say advocates for mentally and physically challenged people.

"Seventy dollars is $70 dollars, but many of the people we deal with still live in poverty," said Ellen Tarshis, executive director of the Victoria Association for Community Living.

"There have been a lot of cutbacks in non-cash benefits, such as medical supplies for people who live in group homes," Tarshis said. "The Ministry of Children and Family Development has been cutting back its service budget as well.

Depending on the type of disability, our people may need residential support, day support, or some families may need respite care. There are also older families who support adults at home."

'Quality of life' report warns risk of homelessness has gone up

'Quality of life' report warns risk of homelessness has gone up

November, 17 - 8:04 AM

VANCOUVER (CKNW/AM980)-- The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is sounding the alarm about an increased risk for homelessness in the country, in the wake of rising shelter costs and shrinking rental markets.

A report on the "quality of life" in 20 Canadian urban centres warns the risk of homelessness has increased over the past decade for low-income people, especially seniors living in rental accomodation.

The study attributes the problem to a 50% drop in rental housing construction, which has led to low vacancy rates, dramatically rising rents and longer waits for social housing. Single-parent families, recent immigrants and aboriginals are the other groups most at risk.

Western Canadian experts converge to deal with crystal meth crisis

Tiffany Crawford
Canadian Press

Sunday, November 14, 2004

VANCOUVER (CP) - Ice, jib, glass or speed, whatever street name it may take, experts agree the highly addictive drug crystal meth is a terrifying problem in North America.

See Also: Crystal News and Online Forum

Now, hundreds of those experts are converging on Vancouver this week for a conference to address the escalating crystal meth crisis. More than 250 delegates, health-care workers, police and social service providers are meeting for the first Western Summit on Methamphetamine.

"This is quite a milestone and accomplishment," said Kathleen Butler, spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health, one of the sponsors of the event.

"It's the first time ever that stakeholders from across Western Canada are meeting to look at this and develop an approach."

Personal possession of drugs no longer jailable in Russia
Note: This report has been provided by the Drug Policy Alliance.(The story was reported in the Moscow Times on May 14th) Drug Policy Alliance

See Also: Decriminalizing of Marijuana - CANADA

Russians will no longer be jailed for carrying small amounts of illegal drugs under a new law that came into effect this week. President Vladimir Putin signed the legislation in December, specifying administrative fines or community service for possession of no more than 10 times the amount of a "single dose" of drugs.

It took the five months since Putin signed the bill for various lawmakers and organizations to agree on what constitutes a single dose. Anyone caught in possession of these amounts or less cannot legally be detained, a spokeswoman for the Moscow branch of the Federal Anti-Drug Service said. Instead, a report will be filed and the fine will be determined by a court.

Saskatchewan first province to regulate use of safety needles

Minister of Labour announces province will commit to safety-engineered
needles; SEIU Canada, Saskatchewan's labour movement claim victory

REGINA, SK, Oct. 28 /CNW/ - Saskatchewan will become the first province
in Canada to mandate the use of safety-engineered needles and medical sharps
across the province, announced Debra Higgins, the province's Labour Minister.

Higgins told the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour's (SFL) annual
convention this morning that her government will implement regulations to
protect workers from diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C through the
mandatory use of engineering controls. Rest assured Saskatchewan will be the
first province in Canada to mandate the use of these safety controls," Higgins
says.

"We are delighted the Saskatchewan government has taken this necessary
step to protect workers and save lives," says Sharleen Stewart, Canadian
International Vice President for the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU). "Premier Calvert's and Minister Higgins' leadership sets a high
standard for worker protection in this province and galvanizes this NDP
government as a leader in protecting workers."

Drug user support group hands out free crack pipes, seeks funding

Drug user support group hands out free crack pipes, seeks funding

See also: Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users and Hepatitis C Resources

Tiffany Crawford
Canadian Press

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

VANCOUVER (CP) - A support group for drug users began distributing hundreds of free crack pipes over the weekend in an initiative they say will help slow the spread of disease among drug users.

Over 500 crack kits were handed out Friday and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users plans to hand out hundreds more in the coming days, said network president Rob Morgan on Sunday. Now the group is looking for public funding to maintain their crack kit program.

Heroin Prescription Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy

December 9th, Victoria

4:30pm in Room 110, Harry Hickman Building, University of Victoria.

David Marsh, Physician Leader, Addiction Medicine for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority will speak on the Vancouver site of the CIHR-funded North American Opiate Medications Initiative (NAOMI) that will provide injectable pharmaceutical-grade heroin to 88 injection drug users.

The 21-month study, also being conducted in Toronto and Montreal, will test whether heroin is more effective than methadone in helping chronic users who are not responding to conventional treatment options.

Dr. Marsh is one of the investigators on this project. His talk will review the development of plans for a Canadian Heroin Prescription trial. He will also review the results of the Swiss and Dutch heroin trials and the planning for the process that led up the starting of the Canadian trials.

Dr. Marsh is also Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine at UBC. He is presently involved in the North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) trial of prescription heroin, an Interdisciplinary Health Research Team on Illicit Opiate Dependence in Canada funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and an evaluation of the Supervised Injection Site in Vancouver.

Why Are U.S. Drug Cops in Vancouver?

Despite slams from a Supreme Court judge and civil liberties advocates, America’s DEA calls B.C. home.

Wed., Oct. 27, 2004

By Alisa Smith TheTyee.ca

[Second of a two-part series.]
See TheTyee.ca for the first part of series

Strange but true: the American Secret Service in Vancouver is listed in the phonebook, but the Drug Enforcement Administration is not. This seems to be a measure of just how secretive the DEA is. They opened shop quietly in Vancouver last year, but the public has little idea of what they are doing—let alone that they are here—and the DEA would like to keep it that way.

“How did you get my phone number?” is the first thing Vancouver DEA agent Kenneth Peterson asks in a booming voice. If it’s classified, he’d best notify his counterparts at the DEA office in Seattle, as they gave it to me.

Prisons need needle exchange programs

Prisons need needle exchange programs

CBC

See Also:
Prison Needle Exchange: Lessons from a Comprehensive Review of International Evidence and Experience

Why is Canada Lagging Behind
in Establishing Needle Exchange Programs in Prisons?

Last Updated Wed, 27 Oct 2004 11:05:22 EDT

OTTAWA - One of the largest doctors organizations in Canada on Tuesday called for needle exchange programs in prisons and jails across the country.

The Ontario Medical Association made the call as the HIV/AIDS Legal Network, an international think-tank, released a comprehensive report on HIV and other injection drug-related infections among prisoners, including hepatitis C.

The general population is put at risk when infected prisoners are released from jail, said John Rapin, OMA president.