Pubdate: Tue, 09 May 2017
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Tim Nixon
Page: A6

SAFE INJECTION SITES NEEDED IN SUBURBS

There can be no doubt a safe injection site needs to be in the
McCauley community health centre or in the Boyle Street Co-op or the
George Spady Centre.

However, homeless people in the inner city are not the majority of
opiate users, so why all the injection sites in one small area? This
is simply opportunistic.

People living in McCauley have shown themselves to be very
compassionate towards the poor and addicted.

They also seem to have no ability to set reasonable social
boundaries.

Be that as it may, how are the rest of the opiate users in the city
going to have safe health care? Is a middle-class husband or wife
going to take a loved one to the Boyle Street Co-op for a safe
injection? That is highly unlikely.

To think of people in the centre of the city as the only ones in need
stereotypes them and discriminates against others who may just as
desperately need these services.

Unfortunately, we have a city council too afraid to upset NIMBYs in
the rest of the city.

They only want to please so their jobs can be reassured.

Tim Nixon,

Edmonton
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MAP posted-by: Matt