Pubdate: Tue, 11 Nov 2008
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Christina Spencer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Insite (Insite)

EIGHT OUT OF 10 DOCTORS AGREE WITH SITES

Canadian doctors overwhelmingly support public funding of safe 
drug-injection sites, including a Vancouver clinic roundly condemned 
by former health minister Tony Clement.

Of 540 physicians surveyed by the Canadian Medical Association, 78% 
agree or strongly agree "harm-reduction strategies, including 
safe-injection sites, should be part of a publicly funded strategy to 
treat addiction."

The remaining 22% disagree, the CMA said. The electronic survey is 
considered accurate to plus or minus four percentage points, 19 times 
out of 20.

The doctors' endorsement adds support to Vancouver's controversial 
Insite safe-injection site, which has operated since 2003. The first 
legal supervised injection centre in North America, it provides a 
secure location and clean needles for drug addicts, as well as access 
to medical treatment and other social services.

The project is meant to reduce both overdose deaths and transmission 
of blood-borne disease among those who share needles. Insite's 
supporters hope it will also encourage users to seek treatment. The 
clinic is part of a broader-based approach to drugs called "harm reduction."

During the summer, Clement argued Insite "undercuts the ethic of 
medical practice" and is an example "not of health care for the 
living, but palliative care for the slowly dying.

"(Addicts) need our help and our intervention, not a place to shoot 
up," he said.

'PREVENTION'

New federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq wasn't available for 
comment yesterday. Her spokeswoman, Josee Bellemare, said the 
government "focuses on prevention and treatment for those addicted to 
drugs" and added the federal government "has provided $10 million to 
open a 20-bed treatment facility for female sex workers in 
Vancouver's downtown eastside."

While the doctors strongly back Insite, Canadians in general are more 
muted. An August survey by Angus Reid Strategies found 38% of 
Canadians supported Insite, while 23% opposed it. About four in 10 
were undecided.

The same poll noted while 5% felt "harm reduction" should be the 
primary approach to tackling drug addiction, 45% preferred policy 
makers concentrate on education and prevention. About 44% felt both 
approaches should be used.

Backing for the clinic was stronger among the public in Vancouver 
itself, Angus Reid found in a survey in May, with 57% of residents 
polled endorsing Insite.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom