Reynolds, Rix join board of body fighting drug addiction
Mayor Sullivan's plan to get addicts off of streets
The Vancouver Province
Tue 20 Feb 2007
Byline: Andy Ivens
Two more pieces in Mayor Sam Sullivan's plan to get drug addicts off Vancouver's mean streets were put in place yesterday with the addition of John Reynolds and Dr. Don Rix to the board of Inner Change.
The non-profit society will have the twin tasks of raising money for Sullivan's proposed Substitution Treatment Research Trial and directing the funds to various scientific organizations that would be involved.
Inner Change director Lois Johnson said getting an exemption for the trial from Health Canada is the first major hurdle. Its policy forbids doctors from prescribing the drugs that would be used in the trial for those purposes.
The trial would provide orally ingested replacement drugs for people addicted to stimulants such as crack cocaine and crystal meth. It would work much the same way free methadone does for heroin addicts.
Vancouver has far more crack and crystal-meth addicts than heroin addicts. Their cravings often lead them to commit crimes to get the cash they need to support their habits.
Johnson said Reynolds -- former leader of the Opposition federally and speaker of the legislature provincially -- "brings profile to the project," which could open corporate doors.
Dr. Rix, chairman of Cantest and MDS Metro Laboratory Services, is a well-known member of the medical profession, volunteer and philanthropist.
Johnson said the addition of "two or three more" members could complete the board.
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