HIV Digest	HIV Digest Archive

A police crackdown on drug dealers in Vancouver's downtown Eastside is exacerbating the neighborhood's AIDS and hepatitis epidemic by driving addicts away from needle exchange programs and other services, a Human Rights Watch report says. Titled "Operation Torpedo," the crackdown aimed at getting dealers off the streets has been somewhat effective, "but at a high cost," according to the report issued Wednesday by the New York-based rights group. Its findings were echoed by activists, health care workers and addicts in the city, which is known for its progressive drug policies.

View our poll archive

Illegal arrests and searches, excessive force and other abuses by police threaten the already dire situation in the 15- block neighborhood frequented by more than 5,000 addicts, the report said. "Vancouver risks making its HIV/AIDS crisis much worse and it's already the worst on the continent," said Joanne Csete, director of the HIV/AIDS Program of Human Rights Watch.

Vancouver police deny abusing their power, maintaining the goal is to rid the area of pushers while keeping addicts near the services they need.

Editor's Note: from the Associated Press