Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2005
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2005 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Glenn Bohn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

FEMALE PROSTITUTES ARE THE LARGEST GROUP WILLING TO USE SUPERVISED DRUG SITES

Female sex-trade workers in Vancouver who smoke crack cocaine, heroin and 
other hard drugs are the addicts most likely to smoke those drugs in a 
government-sanctioned and medically supervised facility, according to a new 
study.

Researchers with the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV-AIDS found 28% of 
443 drug users surveyed were willing to use a "supervised smoking facility" 
like InSite, the "supervised injection site" that exists in Vancouver for 
injection drug users.

The percentage was much higher -- 42% -- for female prostitutes who smoke 
hard drugs. Those women have been found to be the most at risk for 
contracting such deadly diseases as hepatitis C and HIV.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom