Pubdate: Sat, 21 May 2005
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Malcolm Curtis
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NORTH PARK COMMUNITY LEADER BACKS INJECTION SITE

The president of Victoria's North Park Neighbourhood Association has added 
his voice of support for a supervised drug injection site for addicts.

"I think we have to go that route," Dave Brocklesby said.

While the city has taken action to discourage open drug use in such areas 
as Royal Athletic and Central parks, this has pushed the problem onto 
private property, Brocklesby said.

"There's still a fair bit of drug use around here . . . and a lot of 
break-ins related to this," he said. "For the most part they (drug addicts) 
are just looking for a quiet place to inject."

Problems multiply when they start to leave their drug "paraphernalia" 
behind and use private gardens as public washrooms, he said.

Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe and regional health officer Dr. Richard Stanwick 
recently returned from viewing similar facilities in Europe.

Brocklesby said the issue will be discussed along with other aspects of the 
Victoria Urban Development Agreement at the association's annual general 
meeting. The meeting is scheduled for June 14 at 7 p.m. at the 
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

"I'm hoping it will make a big difference for us," said Brockelsby of the 
development agreement, a deal between the city, the province and the 
federal government that could help fund a drug injection site among other 
projects. Some residential areas of North Park are feeling the impact of 
drug users, he said, particularly the Balmoral Road area near the needle 
exchange, run by AIDS Vancouver Island, at the corner of Blanshard and 
Cormorant streets.

AIDS Vancouver Island has long been on record as in support of safe drug 
injection sites, said Miki Hansen, executive director of the organization.

She said such a facility would provide a "safe environment" for addicts 
while allowing them to make connections to help them deal with their 
medical problem. "I think Victorians have been very thoughtful about this 
issue . . . I think this community cares about citizens who are struggling."

Brocklesby agreed general support is there. However, location of the site 
may be problematic because many residents might not want to see it on their 
street.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman