Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2003
Source: Summerland Review (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Summerland Review
Contact:  http://www.summerlandreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1143
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

NEEDLE PARKS REJECTED

Organizers of a recent drug abuse forum in Summerland do not want to see 
safe injection sites in the community.

Coun. Rick Cogbill, one of the organizers of last week's task force on 
substance abuse, believes injection sites, which have been set up in 
Vancouver and other Canadian cities, should not be a priority here.

"We don't have a problem with people who are shooting up with dirty 
needles," he says.

He believes Summerland should focus on the drugs commonly used in the 
community, such as marijuana and crystal methamphetamine.

Former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen believes safe injection sites would help 
improve public health and public order. "There's a great interest in this 
issue in Canada," he said.

He adds that safe injection sites have worked successfully in several 
European cities.

Cogbill, however, wants to ensure that such facilities are not needed here.

"Our goal is to make sure our town does not get to that point," he says.
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MAP posted-by: Tom