FATE OF INSITE STILL UNKNOWN

Vancouver's safe injection site (Insite) has been a hotbed of
controversy since opening three years ago. The most recent research
indicates that the site is beneficial both to its patrons and the
Vancouver community, however, the conflicting ideological views of
the BC and Federal governments continue to threaten its future.

Insite provides a safe atmosphere and clean equipment for persons
with drug addictions. There are over 60 safe injection sites
primarily in Western Europe and most recently Australia. Vancouver's
site is the first of its kind in North America.

"I've traveled to Ottawa several times to advocate for the
continuation of the safe injection Site," said Vancouver mayor Sam
Sullivan, "I hope my efforts have had a role in convincing the
federal government to continue the site."

Tony Clement, federal minister of health, remains skeptical of Insite
despite his recent visit to the facility on January 3, 2007. The tour
came as a surprise to the Insite staff, who were not expecting the
high profile visitor. Both staff and Insite users were present during
Clement's 30-minute tour.

Clement did not reveal the impact of this visit on his views of the
site, but said that it was educational. He has yet to decide Insite's
fate beyond the end of this year.

Jeff West, an employee and advocate of Insite, is passionate that it
has been beneficial both to its patrons and the community. But he is
concerned about the potential closure of the site if the Conservative
Party manages to seize power as a majority government.

West also mentioned United States influence on Canadian policies,
citing the US War on Drugs as a source of dissent in Canada for a
project like Insite.

He is adamant that community harm reduction is a major goal of
Insite, and that a regulated space brings drug usage out of the public eye.

"Amongst this population the first thing you have to do is treat them
with dignity, passion and respect and break down their selfloathing,"
he said.

Evan Wood, assistant professor in the UBC Department of Medicine and
principal investigator for the study of Insite, was involved in its
founding through his work at the BC Centre for Excellence in
HIV/AIDS. Wood helped with feasibility research for the site and
worked with Vancouver Coastal Health to obtain the exemption
necessary to operate an organisation facilitating persons addicted to
illegal substances.

Wood's research concludes that the site is highly beneficial to its
patrons and the Vancouver community. Patrons who visit the site
regularly were shown to have an increased likelihood of entering a
detoxification program; in addition, shared usage of needles in the
Downtown Eastside has decreased; users are practicing safer injecting
techniques, and there have been fewer overdoses among Insite users.

Perry Kendall, Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia's
Ministry of Health and chair of the project's steering committee,
wrote on behalf of Vancouver Coastal Health requesting a 3.5-year
extension based on the encouraging results of the research that has
been conducted.

"Multiply 700 by 365 and that's how many injections would be
happening on the street [per year] if the site closes," Kendall said.

The federal government has cut select funding to the project and
denied Insite's request for a 3.5-year extension to operate in favour
of one that will last until the end of 2007. Wood links this lack of
enthusiasm to the proximity of the USA and ideological conflicts.

"Results are black and white and crystal clear," Wood stated. "[The]
Conservative government has chosen to ignore these findings in
pursuit of their ideological agenda."

"I think it's appalling," said Wood, who believes that this set back
will halt development of similar sites in other Canadian cities,
potentially resulting in avoidable medical care costs and loss of
human life.