Pubdate: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2008 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Liz Evans THE FACTS ARE IN ABOUT INSITE Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Canadian public he would make a decision about Insite, Vancouver's supervised injection site, after all the research was in. The research is in and indicates Insite saves lives, saves tax dollars, reduces public disorder, deters drug use, has not attracted new drug users and helps users of the site find detox and treatment options. Insite has taken one million injections out of our back alleys, and no one has died. For Health Minister Tony Clement to question the moral judgment of health professionals who support Insite ignores millions of dollars' worth of research and evaluation. Peer-reviewed, non-partisan researchers, unbiased medical professionals and the people who make use of Insite all tell the same story: supervised injection sites work. They reduce deaths from overdoses, giving users another day to seek treatment; they help keep needles off the streets; they help prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases associated with drug use. Mr. Harper and his health minister are using fear in an attempt to cloud the facts. Mr. Harper, we at Insite again extend to you, or any member of your government, the opportunity to see our facility and the work that is done here, so you can understand the importance of our work. The reality is: Insite provides one piece of the complex puzzle needed to help some Canadians overcome drug addiction. To be rehashing the same old arguments against harm reduction is depressingly immoral and unethical. What Canada needs is a real comprehensive strategy to address drug addiction. Liz Evans Vancouver nurse and Executive Director of the PHS Community Services Society which operates InSite. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin