Pubdate: Thu, 19 Apr 2012
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author:  Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n217/a11.html

SMART SAFE INJECTION

Regarding Anthony Furey's April 12 column, harm reduction
interventions such as Vancouver's Insite safe injection program have
been shown to reduce the spread of HIV without increasing drug use.
They also serve as a bridge to drug treatment for an especially
hard-to-reach population. Drug users are not the only beneficiaries.

Look no further than the U.S. for examples of anti-drug strategies
best avoided. U.S. Centers for Disease Control researchers estimate
that 57% of AIDS cases among women and 36% of overall AIDS cases in
the U.S. are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who
inject drugs. This preventable public health crisis is a direct result
of zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes. Can
Canada afford to emulate the harm maximization approach of the former
land of the free and current record-holder in citizens
incarcerated?

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

(You think enabling drug use is the opposite of harm maximization?
Wowzers)
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MAP posted-by: Matt