Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC) Section: Front Page Copyright: 2014 Metro Canada Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters Website: http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775 Author: Kate Webb ABBOTSFORD OK'S NEEDLE EXCHANGES Health. City Votes To Permit Harm Reduction With Bylaw Overhaul Needle exchanges, methadone clinics and supervised injection sites are now legal in Abbotsford after city council voted Monday night to amend a 2005 bylaw that prohibited harm reduction measures. The Fraser Health Authority (FHA) wrote to the city in 2010 and asked it to change the zoning bylaw to allow needle exchanges because of concerns about rising rates of hepatitis C. But don't expect to see a supervised injection site like Vancouver's Insite pop up anytime soon. "We've been very clear: There's only one city in Canada that has an injection site. Abbotsford has no interest in being the second. None," said Mayor Bruce Banman on Tuesday. He supported the bylaw amendment on the condition that measures are taken to ensure needles are disposed of properly. Abbotsford's medical health officer, Marcus Lem, said that because of push-back from conservative, religious residents, he did not ask for anything more than to be able to distribute and collect needles in 10 to 15 existing outreach centres. But attitudes in other cities are changing, and FHA would not be alone if it did eventually ask for a supervised injection site - which is different from a needle exchange in that it always has nurses on hand to provide life-saving intervention if someone overdoses. Montreal has made plans to open three permanent supervised injection sites, and Toronto's health authority is also pushing for several small ones, in light of studies showing Insite has reduced overdose deaths, blood-borne diseases and health-care costs while boosting enrolment in drug treatment and recovery programs. Lem said he wants to be respectful of the community's wishes and does not see a safe injection site in the cards for Abbotsford. But one thing he does plan to push hard for is the distribution of overdose kits containing the drug Naloxone, which can counteract the effects of heroin and other opioids. "They're being distributed in Vancouver, but we're not doing it," Lem said. "In places like Abbotsford we've been holding back because we've been trying to be respectful of the bylaw." Lem said FHA has also hired a nurse in Abbotsford who specializes in preventing blood borne diseases to help facilitate the introduction of the needle exchanges. For several years, a number of outreach organizations have been driving vans full of clean needles and supplies to Abbotsford, while pushing to get the unenforced bylaw overturned. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D