Harms highlighted in Canadian Addiction Survey
Ten years after the last national general population survey dedicated to alcohol and other drug use in Canada, the Canadian Addiction Survey was released in late November. While much media attention has been paid to increases in numbers of users (especially of cannabis), less attention has been paid to the numbers reporting various harms to self from alcohol and other drugs or harms reported by others caused by these drugs.

Alcohol: Nearly a quarter of former and current drinkers report that their drinking has caused harm to themselves and to others sometime in their lives.

Harm from one's own use of alcohol: Almost 1 in 10 current drinkers report that they experienced harm from their drinking during the past year. The greatest harm reported (in those age 15 plus) was to physical health (5.4%).

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Methamphetamine project relies on peers
In response to what some have called a crisis, an innovative pilot peer education project focused on youth and methamphetamine is receiving a lot of attention.

The project is based on the belief that fostering responsible and aware youth is an effective response to the methamphetamine issue. According to B.C.'s chief coroner Terry Smith, the number of methamphetamine deaths in the province has been climbing each year, with the majority of victims, young males. The project aims to create an effective training program by focusing on street-involved peer educators. This is complemented by a harm reduction education campaign, a methamphetamine harm reduction network and a peer education network. A peer training package has been used to train nine youth between the ages of 17 to 24 over a three month period. These youth are trained to make contact with peers who use methamphetamines.

There is no evidence to suggest that a crystal methamphetamine user will become addicted after a single use. With frequent use, however, there are serious mental health effects such as psychosis, paranoia, depression and hallucinations. These were among the initial findings from the first Western Canadian Summit on Methamphetamine held this November in Vancouver.

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NAOMI set to go; idea hardly new

"In 1952, a Special Committee on Narcotics of the Community Chest and Council of Greater Vancouver recommended that after thorough study: 'The Federal (Canadian) Government should be urged to modify the Opium and Narcotic Drug Act to permit the provinces to establish narcotic clinics where registered narcotic users would receive their minimum required dosage of drug. Such dispensing clinics, the committee predicted, would ãprotect the life of the addict and support him as a useful member of society.'"

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Edited article from CNW Group

Sent: February 11, 2005

For the first time since 1961, patients in Canada will have access to a new treatment for addiction to opiates such as heroin and prescription pain medication. Subutex(R) (buprenorphine hydrochloride), an oral medication that diminishes drug cravings, reduces withdrawal symptoms and blocks the effects of subsequent drug abuse, has been approved by Health Canada. Subutex will be available by the end of 2005, following education sessions for physicians.

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By the time this newsletter reaches you, our city will be in the midst of Chinese New Year celebrations. This is a time of renewal and optimism for all Vancouver communities. It's also a time to review our progress on the Four Pillars drug strategy, to celebrate our victories and to acknowledge where more needs to be done. To this end, I will be calling a Four Pillars Coalition meeting in March (See - Assessing Our Work: Coalition to Provide Direction) to seek your input on how we can best bring our vision to reality. Remember, this is a long-term strategy and we have just begun to put in place some of the interventions that we expect to improve the lives of individuals and communities in the coming years. There is a tremendous amount of work still needed to fully implement our strategy and I want members of the community to be a part of this.

Busy referral service gets people connected
By Hazel Smith, Coordinator, Communications and Marketing, Information Services Vancouver

It's a province-wide service that connects people to the resources they need most. The Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS) hears from more than 60 people a day who call the 24-hour a day, seven day a week service needing assistance. Last year, more than 23,000 British Columbians called from all areas of the province, with the largest number of enquiries (28 per cent) coming from people living in the Vancouver/Richmond area.

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Community takes the lead in West End program

By Dana Walker, West End Neighbourhood Committee Coordinator

The West End Co-ordinated Neighbourhood Response Program has been created to address street-level issues that negatively impact the sense of safety and liveability in the West End of Vancouver. The coordinated response approach seeks to enhance and support a community-based partnership with various levels of governments. Goals and objectives are being defined and will be translated into action plans.

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Assessing our work: Coalition to give direction

By Donald MacPherson, Co-ordinator of the Drug Policy Program

We want the input of Four Pillars Coalition members on March 9. A lot has happened since A Framework for Action: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver was adopted by city council in May, 2001 and it's time to discuss where we are at. A Four Pillars Coalition working session is planned for March 9 between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm at Vancouver's Sutton Place Hotel. At this session we will challenge Coalition members to give us a report card on how well we are doing in implementing the City's Four Pillars drug strategy. We would like to have a frank discussion on successes, challenges and gaps in the City's drug strategy and hear your ideas for future directions within the strategy.

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