CLEMENT ON DRUGS WHEN IT COMES TO INSITE

To the editor:

Re: "Feds appeal Insite court ruling" and "Health Minister cites VPD cop in
Insite attack," June 27.

I am encouraged that federal health Minister Tony Clement can say
"there is still hope for" injection drug users. In his May 29 speech
to Parliament's health committee, he emphasized the need for treatment
over injection sites and recognizes that 1,200 female sex workers
could be helped if the $3 million per year used to operate Insite was
spent on treatment beds.

What I don't understand is how he can call Insite "a failure of public
policy... [and] ethical judgment" when, at the very least, Insite is
helping to keep the injected drug using public alive long enough to
see the day when government will act to ensure those treatment beds
are funded.

In having filed notices of appeal against the B.C. Supreme Court
ruling in favour of VANDU and the PHS, which operates Insite, the
federal government is the one showing the failure.

The successful and ethical public policy would be to work to fully
fund the detox and treatment programs now and close Insite only when
it is no longer needed to save those lives in the meantime.

Margaret Elliott,

Vancouver