Source: Vancouver Sun (Canada)
Contact:  http://www.vancouversun.com/
Pubdate: Thu 17 Sep 1998
Section: A1 / Front
Author: Doug Ward

DRUG HAVENS FOR ADDICTS GET MIXED REVIEWS

Proposed `safe-injection' sites are very controversial.

A proposal to create four ``safe-injection'' sites for intravenous drug
users in the Downtown Eastside has sparked a sharp reaction among addicts
and health professionals.

The naysayers predict most addicts will still prefer a quick fix on the
street. They warn that state-sanctioned shooting galleries will only
attract more addicts to the Downtown Eastside. And that the money would be
better spent on more detoxification and other treatment facilities.

``Safe-house'' supporters say a controlled environment could prevent
overdose deaths and reduce the HIV epidemic in the Downtown Eastside.

As to the need for more treatment programs, they say it's not a question of
either-or. And that the proposal -- as radical as it might sound -- should
not be dismissed out of hand.

Many addicts are dubious -- even Grace Edge, who almost died of an overdose
two months ago after shooting up in a back alley off Hastings and Carrall.

Edge's near-fatal fix took place only yards away from the Portland Hotel --
one of four sites suggested in a study by the Vancouver/Richmond health board.

She's doesn't think access to a safe-injection site in the hotel would stop
her from shooting up in the same back alley if she was to return to her
cocaine habit. ``If you're going to do it -- you're going to do it now.''

Her friend, Stan Hall, is more positive about the safe-site proposal. ``It
would reduce the overdoses because you would have people right there,
checking on you.''

Larry Robertson, an addict trying to kick his cocaine habit, said: ``It's a
joke. It will become a drug haven -- a place where you can go to score
drugs.''

Melissa Eror, a member of the task force that worked on the report, said
she's not sure how the report will be received by the regional health board
at its next meeting, Sept. 24.

``I imagine there are conservative people on the board that may question
its wisdom, but if they would stop and take a really good look at the
situation, they would agree this is the only thing we can do.''

Bert Massiah, a board member who was on the task force, said his best guess
was that the board would adopt the proposal and approve it in principle,
pending the endorsement of the federal government.

``But whether they [government officials] have the balls to do it, I don't
know.''

The notion of publicly-sanctioned drug use -- the so-called harm-reduction
approach -- was attacked by Dr. Stan de Vlaming, head of addiction medicine
at St. Paul's Hospital.

The addiction expert said governments should first help the Lower
Mainland's addicts get off drugs by funding more detoxification beds,
recovery houses, methadone and other treatment programs. ``It's putting the
cart before the horse.''

Provincial health officer Dr. John Millar said the proposal is a credible
one and that similar experiments in Europe should be examined.

``I don't know why anyone would want to reject it out of hand without
looking at the evidence,'' said Millar.

Agencies working with the addict community in the Downtown Eastside gave
the proposal a thumbs-down.

``This will only turn the area into a destination point for intravenous
drug users,'' said John Turvey, executive-director of DEYAS, the Downtown
Eastside Youth Activities Society.

There are about 15,000 injection drug users in British Columbia.

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Checked-by: Mike Gogulski