Pubdate: Fri, 24 Feb 2017
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v17/n073/a02.html
Author: Connor Meeker
Page: 10

SAFE INJECTION SITES AREN'T A THREAT

Re. "Support services key to safe injection sites," Opinion, Feb.
18

I applaud police Chief Rod Knecht's commitment to establishing
supervised injection sites in Edmonton, and his recognition that
people facing addiction are better helped through compassion than 
punishment.

However, his claim that these sites "[risk] jeopardizing community
compassion due to the resulting scourge of discarded needles,
increased criminal activity, social disorder and neighbourhood
degradation" is baseless.

Multiple studies have shown that after Vancouver's supervised
injection site (INSITE) opened in 2003, there was no increase in
crime, violence, drug trafficking, or the number of intravenous drug
users in the surrounding community. In fact, the number of publicly
discarded syringes and people injecting in public spaces actually decreased.

Claims that supervised injection sites lead to negative social effects
are based on fallacious assumptions that have failed to materialize -
and giving them credence perpetuates false and harmful myths about
these sites.

Connor Meeker, Edmonton
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MAP posted-by: Matt