Pubdate: Thu, 14 Dec 2006
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1682/a06.html
Author: John Anderson

IGNORING FACTS IN THE SAFE INJECTION DEBATE

Re: "Injection site boosts drug use: RCMP," Dec. 11

It shouldn't surprise us that the RCMP have cobbled together a 
"report" to show that supervised injection sites "boost drug use."

The question we should be asking our national police force is, "What 
evidence will you accept that supervised injection sites are working 
to prevent personal harm and criminal behaviour?"

I've asked Mounties responsible for drug enforcement this type of 
question several times over the past 10 years. Their typical answer 
is that they won't accept any evidence which contradicts drug-control 
policies set by senior police bureaucrats in Ottawa.

This response amounts to: "Our minds are made up so don't confuse us 
with facts." Tragically for Canadians concerned about street crime, 
this tendency to reject research to inform our drug control 
strategies may find a receptive audience in Parliament.

John Anderson

Nanaimo.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman