Pubdate: Thu, 02 May 2013
Source: Metro (Ottawa, CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Metro
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Ottawa
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4032
Author: Alex Boutilier

INJECTION SITES HERE?

Insite-Style Model. Debate Over Whether City Should Spend Money on 
Treatment or Harm Reduction Rages On

Any decision on whether Ottawa should have a safe injection and 
inhalation site for drug users is up to the community, not the 
police, according to Chief Charles Bordeleau.

Bordeleau said Wednesday his position on the sites has not changed: 
he would prefer to invest resources on treatment, rather than harm reduction.

"I don't envy anybody being an addict and being reliant on drugs," 
Bordeleau said. "But I think those who are, we're better off 
investing (resources) on the treatment end of it to deal with their habit."

Campaign for Safer Consumption Sites Ottawa, a volunteer advocacy 
group made up of outreach workers, health advocates and community 
organizers, has been canvassing residents about their thoughts on 
safe injection sites, such as Vancouver's Insite.

CSCS's Chris Dalton said Ottawa has a serious health issue in the 
transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other diseases amongst drug 
users. Insite's model, Dalton said, is a proven way of combating the 
transmission of those diseases.

"(They) reduce HIV, reduce overdose deaths, reduce drug litter in the 
streets," said Dalton. "These are things that I think resonate well 
with most people in Ottawa, and I think that people in Ottawa do care 
and they do want to help other people."

CSCS points to a 2012 study from St. Michael's Hospital and the 
University of Toronto that found one in 10 intravenous drug users in 
Ottawa have HIV, while more than half have Hepatitis C.

The group hopes to start a public conversation about how to deal with 
these issues. Bordeleau, for his part, says any discussion of the 
"root causes" of addiction and how best to treat those dependent to 
drugs is productive.

"It's a broader community discussion that needs to take place, and 
something that's meaningful," Bordeleau said.

Diane Holmes, the councillor responsible for Ottawa's Board of 
Health, could not be reached for comment.
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