Pubdate: Sat, 07 May 2016
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Page: A9
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Anna Sophia Vollmerhausen

SAFE INJECTION SITE GROUP TO CANVASS SANDY HILL IN BID TO RAISE AWARENESS

Volunteers from the Campaign for Safer Consumption Sites in Ottawa
will be canvassing the Sandy Hill neighbourhood on Saturday to raise
awareness about safe injection sites.

Starting in the afternoon, volunteers will be going around with
information to keep residents informed and to banish any
misconceptions they may have about safe injection sites.

The canvassing coincides with International Harm Reduction Day, which
aims to raise awareness and promote services to help drug users.

"We're trying to be as open and as honest as possible," said Catherine
Hacksel, an organizer with CSCS Ottawa.

"It's always good to hear what concerns people have.

"Just from my experience talking to people in the area, once we get
the conversation going in a respectful manner, people are generally
open to the idea, once they can get their minds wrapped around it."

The Sandy Hill Community Health Centre has expressed an interest in
adding a safe injection site to its list of services, and held public
consultations in April. The hope is to have the service up and running
by spring 2017.

Volunteers will also be presenting a petition the CSCS plans to submit
to the provincial government.

However, Hacksel said, the focus is also on answering any questions
residents might have, and on promoting the benefits of a harm
reduction program.

Currently, Canada's only safe injection site is Vancouver's InSite
facility. However, the service also exists in multiple countries
across the world, such as Switzerland, Germany and Australia. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D