Vancouver, B.C. is already known for its controversial "harm reduction" approach to heroin addiction. The city provides a small slice of its growing heroin addict population with one "safe injection site" in which to shoot up, away from dirty back alleys, vermin-infested abandoned buildings, and such. The city also dispenses government-issued, pharma-grade smack for qualifying hard-core heroin addicts. In a daring feat of social engineering, the city was also planning a development in the scummy Downtown Eastside to house yuppies and addicts together.

Although Vancouver has a vibrant private sector and reams of enterprising entrepreneurs, the imperatives of growing the government require fearsome meddling in matters best left to free markets, charities and foundations, individuals and families. I suppose this is what you must expect in the largest city of a province where: a former escort is hired as a welfare case worker, and then defrauds taxpayers; and a provincial appeals court upholds a wiggy arbitrator's ruling that a mining company cannot fire an employee found to have regularly reported to work in an open pit mine ripped on B.C. Bud.

But hold onto your puck, the fun's not over quite yet. Now comes a report that city drug policy coordinator Donald MacPherson would like to see Vancouver taxpayers fund the regular provision of red wine for street alcoholics, a group thought to now be too often imbibing unhealthy alcohol-bearing substitutes. Apparently, the lush hostel in Toronto, where drinks are on the house every hour, is a smashing success.

"It's stabilizing the drug use," drug policy coordinator Donald MacPherson said. The benefits of the program would be a reduction in emergency room attendance and less contact with police. But he adds, "How big the need is in Vancouver still needs to be determined." Anne Livingstone of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users says an alcohol-replacement program is logical. "It brings dignity to people who aren't going to stop drinking," Livingstone said. The program would be similar, in theory, to heroin-assisted treatment programs, such as the controversial NAOMI heroin program that's now taking place on a small scale in Vancouver. MacPherson also says that program should be expanded.

In an all-day City Services and Budgets Committee meeting tomorrow (agenda here) Vancouver City Council members will review a report from MacPherson's department, which argues in favor of government-supplied vin ordinaire for alcoholics who somehow manage to blow their spare change not on the cheap malt liquor or fortified wine they could easily afford, but, supposedly, on icky stuff such as Lysol or cooking wine instead. There is apparently a crucial role for city government to play in helping winos get their hands on the right stuff. The report states (p. 10):

Alcohol replacement: Research conducted in Ottawa focusing on substituting extremely harmful substances such as shaving lotion, Lysol and highly salted cooking wines used by long term and entrenched alcohol users with ordinary red wine has shown significant positive results in reducing harm and improving the health status of homeless individuals who are heavy consumers of non-beverage alcohol and inexpensive and highly potent alcohol products. Results of the Ottawa research showed significant reductions in attendance at emergency rooms among participants and a significant drop in the number of police contacts....Strategies to provide substances such as amphetamines and alcohol to heavy users have the goal of reducing harm, stabilizing individuals, improving health status and decreasing contact with the police and the criminal justice system.

These strategies also enable and prolong addiction, but, oh, never mind that part. If Vancouver's council, and its new, seemingly more sane mayor Sam Sullivan grant the wine-for-drunks spending request, I suggest they limit it to imported three-buck Chuck, unless there's an equally thrifty B.C. red available. Even so, approval will beg the question of what other addictions Vancouver city government will choose to fund in the name of harm reduction.

Wouldn't healthier food for Vancouver's morbidly obese be next on the list? Certainly the social costs of obesity are right up there with drug and alcohol addiction. I can see it now: government-funded "Safe Snacking Centres" all over Vancouver. Additive-free desserts; prime grilled meats prepared with savory, reduced-salt flavorings; satisfying fresh fruit smoothies in place of Hawaiian Punch and soda pop.

Take it a step further. In the name of harm reduction, why should not the City of Vancouver fight the spread of HIV/AIDS - which occurs in part through anonymous and unprotected gay sex in public spaces and bathhouses - by opening city-sponsored "Safe Gay Sex" hostels? I'm willing to bet some creative city bureaucrat is in Vancouver is already secretly drafting a related proposal. You may think I'm kidding. But in Vancouver, almost anything is possible - especially where city government is involved.

TECHNORATI TAGS: VANCOUVER, WINE FOR DRUNKS, HARM REDUCTION, HEROIN, OBESITY, HIV/AIDS, TRADER JOE'S, THREE BUCK CHUCK, SAFE SEX, CONDOMS

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at March 22, 2006 05:33 PM

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