Pubdate: Tue, 16 Sep 2003
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2003 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Emily Yearwood-Lee / Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

NORTH AMERICA'S 1ST SAFE-DRUG SITE OPENS

VANCOUVER -- While some of its potential clients huddled nearby, North 
America's first authorized drug-injection site had its long-awaited 
official opening yesterday.

The so-called safe-injection site won't be open to addicts for a week or 
so, but its political backers greeted the move with whoops and cheers.

But there were also emotional memories of addicts killed by overdoses and 
disease caused by drug use.

"The first thing that went through my head is the huge number of people 
that have died and the number that I saw and had to deal with their 
families," said Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell.

As city coroner, Campbell was often called to the poverty-stricken Downtown 
Eastside, where a vacant building was renovated to house the new 
safe-injection site.

The controversial government-funded project, which will give users 
injection kits and allow them to shoot up inside under nurse supervision, 
won't end addiction, said Campbell, but he predicted it will soon make a 
visible difference. "Most importantly, we won't have to take people out of 
these hotels time and time again," said Campbell, referring to the run-down 
buildings that dot the crumbling neighbourhood.

Thirty-seven people have died already from overdoses in Vancouver this 
year, he said.

Drug users sometimes will use dirty needles and water from puddles to shoot 
up. Now, addicts wanting to use the new facility will be ushered into a 
brightly-lit room lined on one side by open, mirrored booths where they can 
inject drugs.

After finishing, they will be taken to a "chill out room," where they can 
receive counselling and peer referrals.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager