Pubdate: Wed, 09 Jul 2008 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n627/a01.html Author: Ruth Meta INSITE STATUS QUO FEEDS 'LIVING DEAD' To the editor: Re: "Health Minister cites VPD cop in Insite attack," June 27. As a former resident, parent and non-profit organizer in Strathcona, it's time to speak my feelings regarding Insite, which I'm sure will not be popular. If it is true that addictions are an illness and treated as such and if it is true that "supervised" injection sites are part of "harm reduction," then Insite belongs in a medical facility and needs to be part of the process of recovery. I initiated a non-profit organization dedicated to self-employment, which opened the first new business on Hastings between Gore and Cambie a few years ago. I was a resident of Strathcona, my daughter was raised in the community. From my perspective, institutions such as Insite enable individuals to continue their dysfunctional lives, provide make-work projects for the power barons who run conglomerate non-profit organizations and continue to foster the attitude that illness, abuse and horror is normalized. I have no way of knowing whether the "scientific" research provided by supporters of Insite is accurate or skewed. That being said, if Insite is contributing to lessening the spread of disease and keeping individuals alive, it belongs in a medical facility such as St. Paul's wherein people who use such a facility are strongly encouraged to leave their community to receive treatment as cancer patients are required to do. I feel the same way regarding the NAOMI trials, which disperses free heroin to addicts. The Downtown Eastside faces incredible challenges in the next two years, with $1 million condos embedded amidst even more social housing for the "hard to house." If there is any plan related to that neighbourhood, one is mystified in trying to understand what that plan is. For the life of me, having lived in that 'hood, I see no evidence of any "harm" being "reduced" in the neighbourhood. The living dead in front of Insite is just one more "going nowhere" testament to the salaries of the individuals who run the various organizations dedicated to keeping the status quo in the community. Perhaps Insite should continue, but addicts need to understand that, if they are to be granted a sanctuary to continue their deathwish, then such a "right" comes with obligations. Their obligation to keep such a place open would be to leave their community to receive treatment (and it should be considered treatment), realize that usage of such a service is part of their commitment to reevaluate their lives and consider treatment. Otherwise, Insite is an unsightly and dangerous experiment in enabling the living dead. The people outside the facility may be animated, but who would call that "living?" Ruth Meta, Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom