Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2013
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2013 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Kaleigh Rogers
Page: A12

BOARD OF HEALTH IS FIRST TO ENDORSE DRUG SITES

Toronto's board of health has become the first government body in the
province to endorse supervised intravenous drug injection sites. The
move is likely to be met with contention, including from the city's
mayor, who reiterated Wednesday he does not approve of the motion.

The decision passed 6-2 after a recommendation from the city's medical
officer of health, David McKeown, for the board to request the
provincial government fund a pilot supervised injection site project
similar to those in Vancouver and other cities around North America
and Europe.

Supervised injection sites provide a safe environment for intravenous
drug users to receive sterile needles and inject drugs. The site would
not supply the drugs. Addiction counselling and detox treatment are
available on site.

Dr. McKeown's recommendations quoted research that shows the sites
have a positive impact on public health and safety by moving IV drug
users off of the streets and into a clinic where they are more likely
to eventually seek treatment and less likely to overdose. "I think
it's very, very important to recognize that injection drug use exists
throughout Toronto. It exists in every neighbourhood," Dr. McKeown
said, noting the city had 895 fatal drug overdoses between 2002 and
2010.

He said supervised injection sites allow drug users "to stay alive
long enough to be able to get off drugs."

Supervised injection sites operate with an exemption from the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which is granted by the federal
Health Minister. But the first step is to get funding from the
provincial Health Minister.

Councillor Joe Mihevc, chair of the board of health, said the ball is
in Deb Matthews's court.

"Deb Matthews needs to, frankly, get with the program. Torontonians
want this," he said.

However, last week when the recommendation was presented to the board
of health, Ms. Matthews said it's not on the province's priority list.

Eighteen members of the public came to Wednesday's meeting to speak in
support of the motion, including physicians, social workers, and
self-admitted drug users, while dozens of others watched.

One speaker, Donna May, had a daughter who was a drug addict and died
last year. The young woman contracted hepatitis C and a flesh-eating
disease, both ailments that commonly affect intravenous drug users who
share or use dirty needles. Ms. May said if a safe injection site had
been around while her daughter was alive, she might still be here
today. "It's the first step of many, but it's a very crucial step to
bringing change," Ms. May said. "I think the community, once they see
that this is in place, will embrace it."

But not everyone has been won over. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has
previously stated he does not support the implementation of supervised
injection sites. He did not attend Wednesday's health board meeting,
but shared his thoughts in the afternoon.

"I said I'm not going to support it, I'm not going to support it,
period," Mr. Ford said. "The taxpayers obviously don't want that."

Councillor Raymond Cho, who sits on the board of health, voted against
the motion, along with citizen member Suman Roy.

The board also passed a motion to formally reject a proposed federal
bill that would impose regulations making supervised injection sites
near impossible to operate.
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