Pubdate: Fri, 01 Sep 2017
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Keith Gerein
Page: A7

RESEARCHERS OUTLINE PLAN TO STUDY IMPACT OF INJECTION SITES

Public health researchers behind Edmonton's effort to develop
supervised drug consumption sites say they have a plan to study how
the yet-to-be-approved facilities affect both clients and
communities.

Assuming the four sites win approval from Health Canada and begin
operating, a robust evaluation process will be needed to gauge the
benefits and residents' reactions to the facilities, the researchers
said in a new report.

The evaluation will be conducted by the University of Alberta's School
of Public Health, with Elaine Hyshka serving as the lead.

Hyshka is a member of Access to Medically Supervised Injection
Services Edmonton, which has proposed to set up safe drug consumption
sites at four locations in the inner city.

If approved, the evaluation will be conducted through five separate
studies.

The first will track how many overdoses are prevented by people using
the facilities, the number of service referrals that are given to
clients and whether the use by clients of other health services
changes over time.

A second study will track complaints about discarded needles, crime
rates and calls to emergency medical services for overdoes
emergencies.

Other research will involve interviews of clients and neighbours on
their perceptions of the supervised consumption sites, while the last
study will look at the cost-effectiveness of the program in reducing
HIV, hepatitis C and other health conditions.

The estimated cost of the detailed evaluation is $488,000 over three
years.
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MAP posted-by: Matt