That's all we need now is a mass influx of fucking junkies in my town
Vancouver's sizeable community of heroin addicts is being asked to sign up for free heroin in an attempt to reduce crime and the spread of disease.
Jim Boothroyd, spokesman for the North American Opiate Medications Initiative, said only those who have been addicted for five years and who have already tried to break the habit will be eligible.
"They're people who have tried at least twice to quit using methadone," said Boothroyd. "Only a small fraction of the people who apply will be eligible."
Based on successful programs in Europe and Australia, the $8.1-million NAOMI project aims to sign up 470 long-term addicts in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto out of Canada's estimated 60,000 to 90,000 heroin addicts.
A considerable number of Vancouver's break-ins, thefts from cars and fencing of stolen property are attributed to drug users.
Heroin addicts commonly have to come up with $200 a day or more for their habit.
Additionally, serious communicable diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis-C are often spread by addicts sharing needles.
Dr. Martin Schechter, an HIV/AIDS scientist at the University of B.C., said it would be unethical not to try to treat heroin addicts who have tried other methods and failed to kick the habit.
The free drugs are scheduled to be available by mid-March.