Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2008
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Kenneth Jackson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Insite (Insite)

WHITE RIPS SITE STUDY

Police Chief Says Injection Facility Would Boost Drug Use

Police Chief Vern White is irate over a study recommending a 
supervised injection site for drug users in Ottawa, saying such a 
facility would lead to increased drug use and become a hotbed for pushers.

It's not what the city needs, said White, and he won't support the 
yet-to-be released University of Ottawa study, first reported in the 
Sun yesterday. The study says the city would benefit from a safe 
injection facility.

"There will be an increased amount of people using needles," White 
told the Sun. "People will buy their drugs out front of the place and 
then go inside and shoot up."

For the past two years, researchers have been investigating whether 
Ottawa needs an injection facility where addicts can bring their own 
drugs and are supervised injecting with sterile equipment.

Of the 250 male and female addicts interviewed in 2005, nearly 65% 
said they would use such a site and 14% said maybe.

Lead researcher Dr. Lynne Leonard said a safe injection facility 
would be one way the city could reduce the number of dirty needles 
found on streets, in playgrounds and coffee shop washrooms.

The only legal site in North America has been operating in Vancouver 
since September 2003.

More than 700 users visit the facility (Insite) daily in Vancouver's 
Downtown Eastside. There are many in Europe and Australia.

Advocates for Insite say it lowers the amount of fatal overdoses, 
public injections and limits the spread of blood-borne diseases.

But White argued that Vancouver continues to have the highest rate 
among intravenous drug users of HIV and hepatitis C in the country 
despite Insite being open for almost five years. Ottawa ranks second.

VISITED SITE TWICE

"I don't see anything in Vancouver that we should be emulating," said 
White, who's visited the site twice.

Vancouver police are partners of Insite and say they'll remain so.

"We will support any initiative that is medical based and based in 
research. We wouldn't stay in the way of something that can promote 
prevention of diseases," said spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness.

She said officers spot suspected users in public and refer them to the site.

"They'll say, 'Hey go over and use that site. That's what it's over 
there for,' " said McGuinness.

Vancouver police didn't initially support the site but their approach 
changed over time said Viviana Zanocco, spokeswoman for Vancouver 
Coastal Health (VCH).

"The police weren't big fans of it when they first heard of it but 
they are fans of it now," said Zanocco.

Health Canada has granted VCH two exemptions allowing them to operate 
legally. They find out June 30 if they'll get another extension.

Health Minister Tony Clement has yet to make a decision whether to 
grant an exemption.

"The minister will make a decision on Insite and other potential 
supervised injection sites once he has had the opportunity to examine 
the research on how the site affects prevention, treatment and 
crime," said spokeswoman Laryssa Waler in an e-mail to the Sun.
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