Pubdate: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 Source: London Free Press (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 The London Free Press Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/cgi-bin/comments.cgi?c=letters_editor Website: http://www.lfpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243 Author: Daniela Simunac, Sun Media Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites) STUDY URGES SAFE DRUG-USER SITES It will take about $15 million over five years -- some of it to set up safe drug injection sites -- to fix a growing drug problem in London's core, city staff told a council committee yesterday. About one-third of the money -- $1 million a year for five years -- would come from local tax dollars, the rest from federal and provincial governments, community services manager Ross Fair said. A study requested by council estimates there are about 1,500 homeless people on London streets, while only 360 shelter beds are available. About 40 per cent of shelter users have addictions and 18 homeless people have died of an overdose this year. Meanwhile, the wait for an addictions treatment bed is six to eight months, council's community and protective services committee was told. There's also growing concern from residents and business owners about rising numbers of homeless on London streets, drug dealers and needles left in parks, on streets and private property. Safe injection sites would allow substance abusers to inject needles in set-aside sites provided the federal government issues a waiver on illegal drug use. The aim of the sites is to reduce the number of loose needles found throughout downtown, Fair said. There is a Canadian one in Vancouver, he said. But the idea was a hard sell for some. "I see it as the government being complicit in the drug trade," said Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen, who sits on the council committee. "For the government to be complicit in that kind of activity is wrong." Other councillors said the problem has grown too big for a city such as London and something needs to be done. Safe injection sites "are one means to end the problem," said Coun. David Winninger. "It is a controversial issue." But if the sites help reduce the problem of needles strewn throughout the city's core, the tax dollars will be "extremely well spent." The only question, he said, is where to put the sites. Fair said Health Canada estimates show drug addiction costs the city an estimated $243 million a year in hospital and jail costs and lost income by addicts who can't keep a job, Fair said. Other suggestions to help combat the problem include: . More beds in emergency shelters . More police who patrol the downtown core . More detoxification and treatment programs . Earlier drug prevention programs in schools . Needle exchanges, needle drop boxes and overdose prevention campaigns A full report comes to the council committee Oct. 29 and a public meeting to discuss a drug abuse strategy for the city is scheduled for Nov. 26. The committee is expected to decide whether to refer the strategy to council for the 2008 budget process before year's end. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake