WHITE RIPS SITE STUDY

Police Chief Says Injection Facility Would Boost Drug Use

Police Chief Vern White is irate over a study recommending a
supervised injection site for drug users in Ottawa, saying such a
facility would lead to increased drug use and become a hotbed for pushers.

It's not what the city needs, said White, and he won't support the
yet-to-be released University of Ottawa study, first reported in the
Sun yesterday. The study says the city would benefit from a safe
injection facility.

"There will be an increased amount of people using needles," White
told the Sun. "People will buy their drugs out front of the place and
then go inside and shoot up."

For the past two years, researchers have been investigating whether
Ottawa needs an injection facility where addicts can bring their own
drugs and are supervised injecting with sterile equipment.

Of the 250 male and female addicts interviewed in 2005, nearly 65%
said they would use such a site and 14% said maybe.

Lead researcher Dr. Lynne Leonard said a safe injection facility
would be one way the city could reduce the number of dirty needles
found on streets, in playgrounds and coffee shop washrooms.

The only legal site in North America has been operating in Vancouver
since September 2003.

More than 700 users visit the facility (Insite) daily in Vancouver's
Downtown Eastside. There are many in Europe and Australia.

Advocates for Insite say it lowers the amount of fatal overdoses,
public injections and limits the spread of blood-borne diseases.

But White argued that Vancouver continues to have the highest rate
among intravenous drug users of HIV and hepatitis C in the country
despite Insite being open for almost five years. Ottawa ranks second.

VISITED SITE TWICE

"I don't see anything in Vancouver that we should be emulating," said
White, who's visited the site twice.

Vancouver police are partners of Insite and say they'll remain so.

"We will support any initiative that is medical based and based in
research. We wouldn't stay in the way of something that can promote
prevention of diseases," said spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness.

She said officers spot suspected users in public and refer them to the site.

"They'll say, 'Hey go over and use that site. That's what it's over
there for,' " said McGuinness.

Vancouver police didn't initially support the site but their approach
changed over time said Viviana Zanocco, spokeswoman for Vancouver
Coastal Health (VCH).

"The police weren't big fans of it when they first heard of it but
they are fans of it now," said Zanocco.

Health Canada has granted VCH two exemptions allowing them to operate
legally. They find out June 30 if they'll get another extension.

Health Minister Tony Clement has yet to make a decision whether to
grant an exemption.

"The minister will make a decision on Insite and other potential
supervised injection sites once he has had the opportunity to examine
the research on how the site affects prevention, treatment and
crime," said spokeswoman Laryssa Waler in an e-mail to the Sun.