Pubdate: Fri, 02 Nov 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Miranda Saroli

FEDS NOT LISTENING TO REASON

Re: What we can learn from Brazil, and vice versa, Oct. 31

It saddens me to think that a developed country such as Canada is 
unable to keep up with the level of health policy in Brazil, a 
developing country with a vast economic inequality and high levels of poverty.

Harm reduction programs such as safe injection sites exist only in 
Vancouver, and even when a four-year study performed by University of 
Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital strongly suggested that both 
Ottawa and Toronto would benefit greatly from these sites, the 
Ministry of Health still refuses to pursue this initiative.

Comparing Canada to Brazil in this respect further underlines the 
fact that the level of economic development or stability in a country 
does not necessarily translate into a healthy population. Harm 
reduction programs are completely feasible here in Canada, and yet 
the government is unable to overcome this prejudice to be able to 
provide support to people suffering from addiction.

"Why should we be helping drug addicts?" you ask. Substance abuse is 
attributable to health inequality and lack of social safety nets in 
Canada. If that doesn't convince you, as the article mentions, "good 
health eases the cost of health care" - simple as that.

So why isn't the government listening?

Miranda Saroli, Toronto
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom