Pubdate: Wed, 09 Sep 2015
Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015, Barrie Examiner
Contact: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/letters
Website: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317
Author: Robert Sharpe
Page: C3
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n504/a01.html

PUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH BEFORE POLITICS

(Re: 'Montreal to open injection sites even without federal approval' in 
the Sept. 4 edition of the Examiner)

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre is to be commended for putting public
health before drug war politics and opening safe injection sites.

Conservative opposition to harm reduction has no basis in science.
Safe injection sites have been shown to reduce the spread of HIV and
prevent overdose deaths without increasing drug use. They also serve
as a bridge to drug treatment for a hard-to-reach population. Drug
users are not the only beneficiaries. U.S. Centers for Disease Control
researchers estimate that 57% of AIDS cases among women in the United
States are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who
inject drugs.

This preventable public health crisis is a direct result of
zero-tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes.

Can Canada afford to emulate the harm maximization approach of the
former land of the free and current record holder in citizens
incarcerated?

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Matt