Pubdate: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Times Colonist Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Bonnie J.E. Tateham NEEDLE EXCHANGE, INJECTION SITE NEEDED Under the 2007 Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness, Addictions and Mental Health report, providing services to clean up our city is a priority. It is interesting to note that three of the Traveller's Inn locations have been bid on by the city. This would provide a wonderful opportunity to create a wet shelter, needle exchange, clinic and possibly a safe-injection site for Victoria's addicted and homeless street population. Since the opening of the Insite supervised safe-injection clinic in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside there has been a noticeable improvement in the amount of drug paraphernalia lying around on the streets. Dozens of lives have been saved and many people suffering with addiction have been helped by the clinic's staff nurses and other professionals. The evidence shows such clinics keep neighbourhoods clean and assist our most vulnerable citizens. I think it's time Victoria looked for similar solutions, perhaps at one of the Traveller's Inn locations. Bonnie J.E. Tateham addictions registered nurse Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake