Canada's Conservative government favors a U.S.-style law-enforcement approach to fighting drug problems, but most Canadians prefer a greater investment in treatment and prevention, the Vancouver Sun reported Jan. 16.

A poll of about 3,000 Canadians sponsored by the newspaper found that two-thirds of respondents said that the federal government should treat addiction as a medical problem with a focus on treatment and prevention. The minority who favored a law-enforcement approach were more likely to be supporters of the Conservative administration of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is expected to soon release a new National Drug Strategy.

"This is an issue where the Conservative world goes one way, the rest of the world goes another," said pollster Greg Lyle. "Within the Tory base, [government support for] harm reduction would be problematic. But in the broader public, that approach is where people are moving."