Pubdate: Wed, 05 Oct 2011 Source: Peace River Record-Gazette (CN AB) Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/uCYPgc0q Copyright: 2011 Osprey Media Website: http://www.prrecordgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1232 Author: Erin Steele, Record-Gazette SUPREME COURT DECISION ON INSITE IMPORTANT STEP FOR HARM REDUCTION IN CANADA Although the decision directly involves a facility 1,400 kilometres away and in another province, the Supreme Court's unanimous decision last week to keep Vancouver's (and North America's only) safe injection site (InSite) open, affects the entire country. It is a positive step forward to looking at harm reduction as a critical piece of the pie of addiction, which affects individuals in every city, town and rural county in Canada. Stephen Harper's majority government tried to close the facility (which has been open since 2003), but last Friday those efforts were squashed. Response from the Conservative government? As expected. They plan to review the decision, and are "disappointed" but will comply with the Court's decision. "We believe that the system should be focused on preventing people from becoming drug addicts," Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, was quoted as saying to Postmedia News. Yes, the system should absolutely be focused on preventing people from becoming drug addicts, but what about those who slip through the cracks? Education is the key component, and should be deeply delved into in both public and private schools, and to children from a very young age. Educators must not be afraid of scaring children, because the truth about drugs and alcohol is not pretty, but it is one thing: real and possible for a person of any walk of life to fall into. Yet what seems to be coming out of Ottawa in the crime scene lately is an unbalanced focus on incarceration for crime in Canada; a mind-frame no doubt linked to the Conservative "disappointment" with the InSite decision. The Conservative government is getting tough on criminals, expanding jails as well as the budget for the Correctional Service of Canada by more than 20 per cent. New legislation federally tabled is the Safe Streets and Communities Act, which wraps up nine previously dead crime bills into one. Supported emphatically by Peace Country MP Chris Warkentin, this legislation aims to "crack down on criminals." There has been no release of cost to taxpayers of the bill which, if passed, would stuff jails because of tougher sentencing. Although the enforcement side to crime -- crimes of which many are likely saturated with drug use-- is important, harm reduction for those engulfed in that life is equally important. Not only does InSite provide a safe place for people stuck in the cycle of addiction - many who are homeless, mentally ill or simply stuck in a way of life from which circumstances have placed them - it is also a hub of resources. Counsellors, nurses, and help to get the addict who is ready to go into treatment or detox are directly on hand. Because whether or not InSite exists, people will use drugs, and worst-case-scenario, lose their lives to a preventable circumstance. The day of the ruling was another positive step toward open-mindedness and understanding of addiction in our society. Flash to Peace River. There are resources, but not enough for a growing town of almost 7,000 with multiple bars and liquor stores. The closest detox bed for drugs and alcohol is in Grande Prairie, as well as the closest needle exchange. It is difficult enough for an addict, who in some cases, has spent years, decades even, in the cycle of addiction, to say 'that's it, I want to get clean.' They then have to get to Grande Prairie. For the addict this can be daunting. Not only would they have to go through a 360-degree change in lifestyle, the first giant leap would have to be taken in a totally unfamiliar setting. Why don't we spend some money ensuring there is at least one detox bed in each town, and more for larger areas? And same with a needle-exchange, to ensure the safety of those who will be using drugs anyway. Why don't we help those who cannot help themselves by providing these resources? Because getting "tough on crime" involves an even balance of "the four pillars," (as deemed by the City of Vancouver) when trying to cohesively battle the drug problem: harm-reduction, education, enforcement and treatment. It needs to be an even split for a long-term change. Harm reduction shows the (often) down and out addict: WE CARE ABOUT YOU. WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY. YOUR LIFE - WHETHER OR NOT IT'S PLAGUED BY DRUGS OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION - IS VALUABLE TO THE WORLD AS A WHOLE. To me, scoffing at the Supreme Court decision says the opposite of this to the addict, which, in what is supposed to be an accepting and loving society, is unacceptable. RELEVANT SONG LYRIC OF THE WEEK: "All research and successful drug policy shows that treatment should be increased Law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minimum sentences." - -System of a Down - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.