Pubdate: Fri, 21 Oct 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Page: A16

SHUT DOWN DRUG SITE

Insite, the supervised injection site on Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside, operates under an exemption upheld by the Supreme Court of
Canada that allows drug users to be in possession of illicit drugs. It
is staffed by a team of registered nurses, qualified counsellors and
professional mental health workers, and peer workers. Not only can
nurses intervene in the event of an overdose, they tend to wounds and
infections and provide immunizations. Insite is a gateway to other
services, including addiction treatment, mental health support and
housing.

The pop-up injection tent set up last month around the corner from
Insite offers none of that. It is a temporary shooting gallery set up
by activists who claim it has drawn an average of 100 drug users a day
since it opened around Sept. 21.

Unlike Insite, the pop-up site serves users who snort or smoke their
drugs, as well as those who inject them. In the event of an overdose,
the site has a supply of naloxone, which the operators claim is
provided by Vancouver Coastal Health.

But VCH told Postmedia News the site is not connected to the health
authority nor does it support or condone it, noting that it's "not
legal."

The City of Vancouver has also washed its hands of the back-alley
facility, saying it is not connected to nor sanctioned by the city.

However, police have not moved to shut down this illegal operation. By
allowing it to continue to operate, the city risks a proliferation of
similar sites like the marijuana storefronts that have sprouted like
weeds in every neighbourhood due to lack of enforcement.

There is a fine line between harm reduction and enabling addiction.
Insite represents the former, the pop-up drug tent the latter.

The illegal drug site should be shut down immediately, but there is a
clear message governments should take from it. More harm reduction
sites like VCH's Insite and addiction treatment clinics like
Providence Health Care's Crosstown Clinic are desperately needed.

VCH has said it plans to open at least four more supervised injection
sites in the region. These should be approved without delay and begin
operations as soon as possible.

While the immediate goals of court-sanctioned and 
health-authority-approved injection sites are to prevent overdose 
fatalities and the spread of HIV and hep C, the broader purpose is to 
steer addicts into treatment and social services to improve their 
overall health and stabilize their lives. A tent handing out syringes 
cannot do that.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt