Burnaby residents angry over pharmacy dispensing methadone

WATCH: Burnaby Heights residents are worried that a pharmacy that deals out methadone is attracting crime to their neighbourhood. Rumina Daya reports.

VANCOUVER – Residents and businesses in a North Burnaby neighbourhood are up in arms today over what is going on at a local pharmacy.

Shiraz Pharmacy in the 3900-block of Hastings Street has been dispensing methadone, often to addicts who they’ve transported in from the Downtown Eastside.

Those who live and work in the area say, as a result, they’ve been dealing with an increase in petty crime, loitering and a general deterioration.

There are also fears the problem could get worse if a similar naturopathic pharmacy, with connections to the Burnaby location, is approved for just down the street on the Vancouver side of Boundary Street.

“I’ve been in this area for 13 years and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said business owner Dana Gale. “I’ve never had spray paint on my front door before. The neighbour behind us, her car got drilled into the gas tank to take gas. There’s a lady that lives behind that, bikes are being stolen, cars are being broken into.”

“There’s a lot of activity that’s never been in this area before.”

– With files from Rumina Daya