INJECTION SITE DOESN'T BOOST CRIME: STUDY

VANCOUVER (CNS) -Vancouver's supervised injection site shows no signs
of causing increased drug use or crime, according to an expert
advisory committee commissioned by the federal government.

The federal committee members also say in a report released yesterday
the site saves one life a year from overdose deaths, is working at
capacity, and the majority of the public wants to see the service continue.

The committee found no evidence of increased loitering, dealing or
petty crime around the site and police data shows no change in the
crime rate in the Downtown Eastside.

The site, which just saw its one millionth injection last week and
costs $3 million per year to operate, accommodates about five per
cent of the total number of drug injections in the Downtown Eastside.
The average user has been injecting for 15 years, the committee found.