SUPPORTING CRIME

In all the polarized praise and criticism about Insite, no one has
mentioned the singular, glaring problem with the concept.

Each of the participants brings in his/her own drugs to inject safely.

The money to buy these drugs is often derived from criminal activity,
including theft, home invasion, robbery and the sex trade.

This means that, well-meaning though we may be, we are supporting
criminal activity against our own selves.

The recently conducted NAOMI project, which consisted of
administering clean heroin to individuals who had tried and failed at
other forms of treatment, was apparently very successful.

The most overwhelming difference with NAOMI is that, by providing
free drugs to those who are, at least for now, irrevocably addicted,
we can reduce harm to the public through addiction-fuelled crime.

Renee Carignan, Vancouver