SAM CASTS LOT WITH INSITE

Injection Site Seen As Complement to Mayor's Plan

Mayor Sam Sullivan says his proposal for a drug treatment program for
addicts is not a signal to the Conservative government to approve the
program and then shut down the city's supervised injection site.

Sullivan agreed that not all Conservative members of parliament
support Insite but he said many are also against his Chronic Addiction
Substitution Treatment (CAST) program. The mayor wouldn't name the
MPs.

"I've talked to many ministers who wholeheartedly endorse the
supervised injection site and lobby within their own caucus for it,"
Sullivan told the Courier. "But some of them are very opposed to CAST
and the ideas behind it, whereas others are very supportive of it."

Insite, located near Main and Hastings, opened in September 2003 and
its operating agreement with the federal government expires at the end
of June. Sullivan has yet to get approval from Health Canada and
Health Minister Tony Clement on his CAST program.

The mayor's treatment program involves medical doctors prescribing
legal drugs to addicts as a substitute to illegal drugs obtained on
the streets. A team of researchers is working to get at least five
trials approved in the city.

Sullivan's comments on the city's drug policy come as a report
commissioned by Health Canada on injection sites confirmed that Insite
is encouraging addicts to seek counselling and treatment and
preventing overdose deaths.

The report, researched and written by an advisory committee created by
Health Canada, concluded that Insite hasn't increased crime in the
Downtown Eastside and that the general public has "positive views" of
the facility.

The news prompted PHS Community Services Society, which operates
Insite in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health, to issue a
statement. Society executive director Mark Townsend expressed
confidence the government would extend Insite's operating agreement.

"Hopefully, with this report, we can put this tired, old debate behind
us and get on with providing additional treatment, harm reduction and
prevention measures to people who need it most," Townsend said.

In the mayor's half-term interview with the Courier last year, he
described Insite as "a temporary measure." He also said the
Conservative government doesn't have "great enthusiasm for this technique."

The mayor denies his comments meant Insite should close. He wants it
to remain open for at least another three-and-a-half years. He added
that Minister Clement is aware of his position.

Sullivan, however, said he won't lobby for more injection sites.
Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe told the Courier last year that he believed
Vancouver needed at least five sites. Lowe is lobbying Health Canada
for three injection sites for Victoria.

"I'm focused on keeping this one," Sullivan said Wednesday. "I know
it's not the answer, but it is an important part of getting to the
answer."