Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jul 2016
Source: Tri-City News (Port Coquitlam, CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Tri-City News
Contact:  http://www.tricitynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239

TIME HAS COME, SADLY, FOR SAFE INJECTION SITES IN THE SUBURBS

There were 127 overdose deaths in the Fraser Health region in the
first six months of this year, including 10 from fentanyl in nearby
Maple Ridge.

In April, the B.C. government declared its first-ever public health
emergency to deal with the sharply rising cases of opioid drug
overdoses across the province.

Over the July 16 weekend, there were 36 overdoses in Surrey alone over
two days. The weekend before that, five people ODed at a house party
in Coquitlam, their lives possibly saved because a resident of the
home returned late at night and called 911.

Now, Fraser Health is looking to add supervised injection sites in
city centres.

There are two supervised injection sites in Vancouver. Insite became
North America's first legal clinic in 2003 and operates under
Vancouver Coastal Health, which provides all funding and senior
administrative and health-care workers.

An article by Julio Montaner and Thomas Kerr of the B.C. Centre for
Excellence in HIV/AIDS said peer-reviewed studies have shown Insite
saves lives and health-care money, reduces disease transmission, and
promotes entry into addiction treatment. They said peer-reviewed
studies done by researchers from Canada, Australia, Britain and the
U.S. show Insite does not increase crime or perpetuate active drug
use.

Under the federal Respect for Communities Act passed by the former
Conservative government, proposed consumption sites seeking an
exemption must be backed by extensive documentation, including support
letters from the local municipality and police force. It should be
repealed, as requested by health officials.

Fentanyl is being mixed in and passed off as other drugs because it is
cheaper, and people - addicts and recreational drug users - are dying
from it at an alarming rate.

Sites for safe injection sites will be chosen based on where the most
benefit is possible, using data on overdoses, as well as fatalities
from the B.C. Coroners Service.

This is an idea, unfortunately, whose time has come in the Fraser
Health region.
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MAP posted-by: Matt