Pubdate: Wed, 04 Apr 2012
Source: Prince George Free Press (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.pgfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2135
Author: Natalie Cameron

POLL FINDS SUPPORT FOR SAFE INJECTION SITE

Supervised injection sites would be supported in Prince George, a
University of Northern British Columbia class concluded after
conducting a public opinion poll last March.

The group of political science students asked residents whether or not
supervised injection sites were a good idea.

Of 171 responses, 73 per cent said they supported the idea, 13 per
cent did not and nine per cent were unsure. Of those who support the
general idea of such a facility, 68 per cent would like to see a
supervised injection site in Prince George.

"My classmates and I were actually surprised at some of the results
that still overall pointed towards the positive opinion regarding
supervised injection sites in Prince George," said Devon Flynn, the
analysis representative. "With these numbers provided through the
responses depicting public opinion, we conclude there is significant
support for supervised injection sites in the City of Prince George."

The polling took place March 10 and 11 around the University Hospital
of Northern BC, Books and Company, UNBC, and the public library.

"We choose these places because of the high traffic rates on weekends
and the diversity of people," said Marissa Olson, the polling
representative. "Although we had hoped to gather more surveys we were
pressed for time and did not have the resources that a professional
polling agency would. Nevertheless, we were happy with the results."

Flynn said the results had a margin of error of 10 per
cent.

He said they plan on leaving the results open to the
public.

"Any future action or policy decision will have to be taken by those
policy makers themselves," he said. "The information is available."

City councillor Brian Skakun asked the students if they would be
interested in presenting the results to council.

"It will give this whole issue a little bit of momentum and there
could be some frank discussion with themselves and council at a public
meeting," he said. "It doesn't hurt for us to receive information
publicly ... I think it's important we can be just sort of be a
conduit for the work that this group has done."

The students have agreed to present the findings but a date has not
been set.