Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jul 2006
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Peter Severinson

INJECTION SITE SEEKS TO EXPAND

Vancouver's historic safe-injection site may not exist after 
September, but that's not stopping them from trying to expand their services.

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, which runs the site, made a 
proposal to the City of Vancouver in April to add 30 beds and a food 
service to the facility. They're awaiting a final decision.

Coastal Health spokeswoman Laurie Dawkins said addicts who use the 
site regularly ask for help getting off drugs, and sometimes need a 
place to stay for a few days before they can get into a treatment centre.

"It's a matter of getting people from using [drugs] to treatment," she said.

This is the first such site in North America and operates under an 
exception from Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. That 
exception expires in September and if it isn't renewed, the facility 
will have to shut down. Vancouver's mayor and several community and 
health organizations are lobbying Ottawa to keep the site open.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman