Pubdate: Tue, 10 Dec 2002
Source: Reuters (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Reuters Limited
Author: Randall Palmer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

CANADA PANEL PUSHES 'SAFE' DRUG INJECTION SITES

The Canadian House of Commons Special Committee on the Non- Medical Use of 
Drugs recommended Monday that Canada establish "safe" injection sites as a 
way to cut the spread of diseases such as HIV among drug addicts - a 
proposal that generated criticism from police and opposition politicians. 
The safe site proposal draws on experiences in European countries such as 
the Netherlands. "People are using drugs. Let's deal with the health 
problem," committee Chair Paddy Torsney said after submitting an interim 
report after 1.5 years of study. "They're somebody's brother or sister, and 
they're deserving of our care."

The proposal would allow addicts to bring their own heroin or other illegal 
drugs to a room where they can inject the drugs without penalty, under the 
supervision of medically trained personnel. The idea is harm reduction: to 
reduce blood-transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, as well 
as to reduce overdose deaths. The committee also hopes to cut back on seedy 
drug scenes, like the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia.

The right-wing Canadian Alliance, the largest opposition party in 
Parliament, dismissed the findings of the Liberal-dominated committee, 
saying they were a recipe for "harm extension." The Alliance's Randy White 
said the European facilities the committee visited made no checks for the 
safety of drugs used, and opening safe sites did not succeed in cleaning up 
nearby neighborhoods. "Surrounding the facilities, I saw human carnage for 
blocks, as well as a substantial gathering of addicts and pushers in the 
areas where trafficking and using were reluctantly permitted," White said.

Police also blasted the idea of safe sites, saying they would do nothing to 
deal with the violent crimes committed by addicts who need to fund their 
habits, and would merely further encourage the drug culture. "Our concern 
is that we're sliding down a slippery slope to the point where it won't be 
long that we'll be hearing calls for dispensing drugs in those sites as 
well," said Canadian Police Association spokesperson David Griffin.
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