Pubdate: Wed, 14 Apr 2004
Source: Record, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.royalcityrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1654
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n543/a07.html

SAFE SITES WORK

Editor, The Record:

Re: Eugene Kaellis, Apr. 1.

Safe injection sites have been proven to reduce the spread of HIV
without increasing drug use. They also serve as a bridge to drug
treatment for an especially hard to reach population.

The good news is that B.C. has already adopted many of the harm
reduction interventions first pioneered in Europe. The bad news is
that Canada's southern neighbour continues to use its superpower
status to export a dangerous moral crusade around the globe.

The U.S. provides tragic examples of anti-drug strategies that are
best avoided. U.S. Centers for Disease Control researchers estimate
that 57 per cent of AIDS cases among women and 36 per cent of overall
AIDS cases in the U.S. are linked to injection drug use or sex with
partners who inject drugs.

This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct result of
zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes. Canada
cannot afford to emulate the harm maximization drug policies of the
former land of the free and current record holder in citizens
incarcerated.

Robert Sharpe, Common Sense for Drug Policy,

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake