HAS THE SAINT JOHN POLICE FORCE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK DURING THESE LAST 5 YEARS????

bonner, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

They praised the Methadone clinic??? There's around 150 on the waiting list. While they wait for their methadone? They commit the crime. Saint John should have had a methadone clinic years ago.


NB Telegraph-Journal | Saint John
As published on page B3 on June 7, 2006

Dilaudid passes crack in popularity

Maggie Estey-Smith
Telegraph-Journal

Saint John has a unique problem in its Dilaudid use epidemic, according to the head of the Saint John Police Force's street crime unit.

Sgt. Phillips told the monthly meeting of the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners Tuesday that an estimated 95 per cent of the street crime unit's work is related to drugs, as he passed sealed bags of seized marijuana, crack cocaine rocks, and colorful pills around the table for the board's viewing.

A large percentage of the drug problem in Saint John, he said, holding up a package of large grey pills, is synthetic heroin, also known as Dilaudid.

It is a painkiller usually prescribed to the terminally ill, and Sgt. Phillips said it has surpassed crack cocaine as being the most predominant drug of choice in the Port City.

"We really have no explanation as to its popularity here," he said.

"But dealers will save their Dilaudid for Saint John, and sell their Oxycontin and other drugs elsewhere throughout the province.

"We have a unique situation that I cannot explain, and the impact is phenomenal."

Sgt. Phillips said a disturbing recent trend in Dilaudid use in Saint John is injection, accounting for the recent rise in hypodermic needles found in residential areas.

"If you can venture a guess as to where you could stick a needle, a Dilaudid user will 'bang' it there," Sgt. Phillips said, using a slang term for injection. "In his arm, in his groin, even in his eye.

"Once this drug takes hold of you, you are in a whole world of trouble, and you will do anything to fulfil that need."

Sgt. Phillips said a number of recent robberies and break and enters in the area were due to people trying to feed their Dilaudid habit.

Though Sgt. Phillips was short on answers when it came to exactly how the drug arrives in the city and why it is so popular in the area, he said he applauds the work being done at the city's methadone clinic and the outlook of those who want to escape drugs.

"We're actually fortunate in Saint John, because most of these folks are decent people with addiction problems," he said.

"Quite often when we intervene, they're actually glad to see us, because they've reached rock bottom and they need help."