Pubdate: Wed, 09 Feb 2005
Source: Edmonton Examiner, The (CN AB)
Copyright: The Edmonton Examiner 2005
Contact:  http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1837
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n174/a01.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

NO NEED TO DELAY SAFE INJECTION SITES

TO THE EDITOR:

Re: Editorial - Jury still out on safe injection sites

Why wait for the results of one Vancouver pilot study when so many others 
have already proven that safe injection sites that offer needle exchange 
reduce the spread of HIV without increasing drug use?

It's important to note that safe injection sites also serve as a bridge to 
drug treatment for an especially hard to reach population.

Drug users are not the only beneficiaries. Look no further than the United 
States for tragic examples of anti-drug strategies that are best avoided.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control researchers estimate that 57 percent of 
AIDS cases among women and 36 percent of overall AIDS cases in the U.S. are 
linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who inject drugs.

This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct result of zero 
tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes.

Can Canada afford to emulate the harm maximization approach of the former 
land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated?

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy 
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MAP posted-by: Beth