Pubdate: Thu, 23 Nov 2006 Source: Burnaby Newsleader (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Burnaby Newsleader Contact: http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1315 Author: Tom Fletcher Note: Tom Fletcher is B.C. bureau reporter for Black Press newspapers. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) FOUR PILLAR FAILURE Regular readers will know what I think of pretend "needle exchange" programs where dirty needles are thrown on the street, or unsafe "safe injection sites" where dirty street junk is injected with nursing supervision. The whole thing in Vancouver looks like a government agency set up to work in conjunction with the heroin and cocaine dealers who control the street outside. The prescription heroin trial that's currently going on in Vancouver offers more potential, at least for a few hardcore addicts who don't respond to methadone treatment. This type of program is the closest this country is going to get to legalization in the near future, and it can be done without the national and international political backlash that would kill a bolder program. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman