Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2007
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Matthew Ramsey, The Province

HEALTH AUTHORITY DISMISSES REPORT RIPPING INSITE FACILITY

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is dismissing a report that 
paints a dim picture of the InSite safe-injection facility.

The report, available online at www.globaldrugpolicy.org, is 
published in the Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice.

The critique by Dr. Colin Mangham, research director with the Drug 
Prevention Network of Canada, notes what he says is evidence of bias 
in previous evaluations of InSite.

He also said there is underreporting of negative findings and that 
the safe-injection site fails to attract younger drug users, 
therefore failing to promote drug-use prevention in the long term.

Network president Randy White said the report shows resources are 
being misdirected when it comes to addressing drug abuse.

"All the attention and money that has gone into this program by city 
and provincial governments, with assistance from the federal 
government, could have and should have been put into prevention," White said.

But the health authority disagrees with the conclusions.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman