Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2013
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Danielle Bell
Page: 3

NEEDLE PLAN GETS BOOST

Sandy Hill health centre pushing for safe-injection site

The push for Ottawa to get a controversial supervised injection site
is gaining speed.

The Sandy Hill Community Health Centre on Wednesday said it's working
to submit an application for an exemption from federal drug laws in
order to open a "safer consumption site."

"We think we could do more for people in the community and drug users
themselves," said Rob Boyd, director of the Oasis program at the Sandy
Hill Community Health Centre.

"We feel it's important to move forward."

Supporters lauded the move by Toronto Public Health, which has called
for a supervised injection site in its city, as well as criticized
proposed legislation, Bill C-65, that would make it tougher to do so,
as "a major step in the ongoing battle to provide services to those
who most need it."

Boyd said they've received strong community support, and have spent
the past year gathering local evidence to support an injection site in
the city.

Ottawa has the highest rate of HIV among drug users in the province,
according to SHCHC, with areas in the city with open drug use and many
discarded needles.

These are all issues proponents believe could be helped with such a
site, which has sterile equipment to lessen disease and can connect
addicts with help.

There are more overdose deaths per year here than from car crashes,
their research suggests.

Critics have argued such sites raise community safety issues,
including encouraging drug use and crime.

As Toronto's report was brought for consideration to its board of
health this week, supporters want Ottawa Public Health to follow that
lead, and help in the push for a supervised injection site.

But public health officials said Wednesday that while they're
monitoring discussions around the topic, they're focused on a
four-pillar approach - prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm
reduction-that at this time doesn't include plans for a supervised
injection site.

"We're not trying to establish one right now," said Vera Etches,
associate medical officer of health.

Former IV drug user Sean LeBlanc, 40, said he "lucked into the
support" that helped him get off the streets, when a frontline
outreach worker crossed his path.

Had a supervised injection site been around, LeBlanc believes he'd
have turned to it and been exposed to support a lot sooner.

LeBlanc is now part of the Drug Users Advocacy League, which will also
partner on the application, which is expected to be submitted this
fall.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt