Pubdate: Tue, 04 Oct 2011 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2011 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 COURT RIGHT TO SUPPORT INSITE An excerpt of an Ottawa Citizen editorial: The sky hasn't fallen since Canada's first safe injection site opened its doors to addicts in Vancouver's downtown eastside in 2003. The facility has done exactly what the health-care system should be doing -- improving the health of Canadians, especially the most marginalized and difficult to reach. With a unanimous ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada ended a misguided and ideologically led effort by the federal government to shut down that safe injection site, called Insite. The court ruled that shutting it down (by denying an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) would be arbitrary and grossly disproportionate. In doing so, the court has opened the door for similar sites to be set up in other communities. "Insite has saved lives and improved health without increasing the incidence of drug use and crime in the surrounding area," the court said. The science on Insite is old news. When it was set up with the support of Vancouver police, the city and the B.C. government in 2003, it was, in large part, a scientific research project. "It is a strictly regulated health facility, and its personnel are guided by strict policies and procedures," the decision read. "It does not provide drugs to its clients, who must check in, sign a waiver, and are closely monitored during and after injection. Its clients are provided with health-care information, counselling, and referrals to various service providers or an on-site, ondemand detox centre." Research has found that Insite has numerous benefits, among them a reduction of public injections, needle sharing and neighbourhood litter. It also found that patients increased their use of detox and long-term addiction treatment and that the program has saved taxpayers millions and, crucially, saved lives. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.