Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jul 2013
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Gabor Mate
Page: C15
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n349/a03.html

AIMING FOR TREATMENT

Licia Corbella implies that Vancouver's supervised injection site
(Insite) is a place where drug seekers can "score" heroin or other
substances. I worked as the physician at this facility for two years
and I can assure Corbella that Insite is not a place for drug dealing
- - that happens on the street in Vancouver, Calgary and every major
city.

Insite's demonstrated benefit is to diminish the harm from drug use,
not only by resuscitating overdosed clients, as Corbella mentioned,
but also by significantly reducing the transmission of HIV,
hepatitis C and other deadly diseases, thereby saving lives and
multiple millions of health care dollars.

If this is a purpose Corbella opposes, she may wish to explain why.
Our intention and practice at Insite has always been to steer people
into treatment, with the goal of abstinence. We could be much more
successful at that task if we had a rational, nonpunitive, 
science-based, compassionate drug policy in our country.

Gabor Mate, MD, Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Matt