Pubdate: Mon, 31 Oct 2016
Source: Metro (Calgary, CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Calgary
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4471
Author: Josie Lukey
Page: 5

CONSUMPTION SITES A 'FRIENDLIER' NAME

Regardless of what you call it, Alberta is getting into the business
of harm reduction by giving drug users a safe place to take their drugs.

Late last week the province announced it would provide funding for
agencies working to establish supervised consumption sites, but for
our neighbours to the west, these sites are known as supervised
injection sites.

According to Alberta Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann, the name change
might be a result of previous governments conservative feelings about
crime reduction, where people turned off by the idea of supervised
injection sites can take a bit more comfort if they're called
supervised consumption sites.

"If it's turning people off and they're pulling away their support for
(sites) because they don't like (the name), it's a problem. If it's
turning people away that would use the system more if it was spelt
friendlier, then let's use words that will get people comfortable with
it," said Swann.

Randy Pages of the Alberta Addicts Who Educate and Advocate
Responsibly (AAWEAR) also welcomes the name change.

"I'm not a big fan of the term injection sites, so I like consumption
sites," said Pages who added that the province still needs to do more.

Both Pages and Swann note that despite the name change, the government
needs to work on making the sites a more open and a friendlier place
to heal those who might be turned away because of stigma placed on
users.

So far there are no concrete plans for a safe consumption site in
Calgary.
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MAP posted-by: Matt