Pubdate: Fri, 08 Apr 2016
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Andrew Duffy
Page: A4

MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER BACKS INJECTION SITES

Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health Says Supervised Injection Services 
Save Lives.

Dr. Isra Levy issued a statement late Thursday in response to the 
roiling debate triggered by the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre's 
proposal to open a safe injection site in the basement of its 
downtown facility.

"Evidence has shown that supervised injection sites save lives and 
offer other positive impacts for affected individuals, their loved 
ones and the community at large," Levy wrote.

"They must be considered as part of any comprehensive approach in 
working and treating people who inject drugs."

Although the city's top medical official stopped short of endorsing 
the Sandy Hill proposal, Levy said Ottawa Public Health will review 
the plan and work with decision makers and local residents to "ensure 
the broader public health perspective is considered."

Levy said he takes seriously "legitimate concerns" about public 
safety, and he stressed that any plan for an injection service needs 
to ensure it employs the right model for the drug issues in this city.

As many as 5,000 injection drug users live in Ottawa, he said, and 
about 40 people die each year from unintended overdoses - as many as 
from homicides and traffic accidents combined.

"In many cases, these overdose deaths are preventable, and the 
problem isn't going away," Levy said, noting that emergency room 
visits caused by drug overdoses have jumped more than 80 per cent 
during the past seven years.

A safe injection site, he said, would give drug users a hygienic 
place to consume drugs under the supervision of a trained staff, 
while also serving as a bridge to medical treatment, counselling, 
detox and income support programs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom