Pubdate: Thu, 14 Apr 2016
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2016 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://thestarphoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Page: A6

INJECTION SITE WORTH EXPLORING

In a province that has led Canada since 2010 in the rate of HIV
infections and in a city where researchers describe intravenous drug
use as an "epidemic," the call by Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) Chief
Felix Thomas to investigate the value of establishing a safe injection
site is a highly sensible idea.

It's time to put to rest the knee-jerk, anti-science attitude of the
former federal Conservative government, which ignored credible data on
the lives saved and harm reduced by Vancouver's Insite facility, and
seriously explore whether Saskatoon might benefit from a similar service.

Ottawa and Toronto are studying the possibility of establishing sites,
where needle drug users can inject themselves under supervision to
prevent death from overdoses and where counselling and referral
services are available for those who want help with tackling their
addictions. There's ample reason for Saskatoon, with its high rate of
intravenous drug use that's responsible for a high AIDS and Hepatitis
C rate, should join them in exploring a proven harm reduction strategy
that can save lives and health care dollars, and alleviate human misery.

Along with a smaller needle exchange program provided by the Saskatoon
Health Region, STC operates a clinic on 20th Street that provides a
needle exchange program that hands out more than a million needles a
year, conducts testing and provides counselling and addictions
services not only to First Nations people but to anyone who comes to
the facility seeking assistance.

"We've expended a lot of our own-source revenue on it," explained
Chief Thomas. "At some point, we've got to say, 'We can't afford this
anymore.' We're going to have to work with the health region and
province as to how can we sustain this."

Perhaps, as Dr. Ryan Meili told the SP, the spread-out nature of
Saskatoon's drug culture means a safe injection site would be less
effective than it is in Vancouver, where the IV drug users are
concentrated in the Downtown Eastside. However, that doesn't mean the
option shouldn't be explored, along with such things as adding another
outreach van for needle exchanges and counselling.

IV drug use is prevalent in Saskatoon and Regina, while prescription
drugs constitute much of the intravenous use in rural areas and
reserves. However, many of the latter end up in cities, and agencies
such the STC become the front line in providing help, even though
their resources are spread thin. It's time for the provincial
government to join the discussion, and Health Minister Dustin Duncan
needs to go beyond expressing support for inadequate needle exchange
programs and consider the merits of adding a safe injection site to
the mix.
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MAP posted-by: Matt