Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jan 2003
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Keith Bradford

SAFE INJECTION SITE MAY NOT BENEFIT CITY: EXPERT

A major new study which claims safe injection sites provide immediate 
public health benefits and save money doesn't necessarily apply to 
Edmonton, says the city's deputy medical officer of health.

Dr. Marcia Johnson said she is interested in looking at the idea of opening 
a so-called "shooting gallery" in the city - but thinks the Vancouver study 
may not be applicable to Edmonton's drug scene.

"There is information that shows a site of this kind would help those who 
are on drugs to take some positive steps in their lives," she said. "But we 
need to make sure it's relevant in this situation."

The study, published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 
is based on interviews with 587 addicts involved in the Vancouver injection 
drug users study.

It found that addicts who faced the highest risk of contracting infectious 
diseases, such as HIV, were most willing to use a safe injection site - a 
fact critics have long disputed.

Dr. Michael O'Shaughnessy, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in 
HIV/AIDS, said safe injection sites perform an important public health 
function by preventing syringe-sharing and overdoses, thus saving money 
spent on treatment.

"At a cost of $150,000 to the taxpayer per case of HIV, we can't afford to 
delay any longer in establishing these facilities," he said.

"The status quo is not an option anymore."

Johnson said she wants to work with city police and agencies such as the 
needle-exchange program Streetworks to study the problem of drug addiction 
in Edmonton, and investigate whether safe injection sites would help.

In February 2001, city police Chief Bob Wasylyshen endorsed a plan to set 
up experimental safe injection sites for addicts.

Health Canada has already issued guidelines for how safe injection drug 
sites should operate at pilot sites, likely in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
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