CITY NEEDS 3 INJECTION SITES - STUDY

Report Urging Safe Spots for Addicts Comes As Tories Plan Drug Crackdown

Victoria needs three supervised drug injection sites, according to a
soon-to-be released study commissioned by the city and the Island's
health authority, the Times Colonist has learned.

The highly anticipated report is slated to be released at about the
same time the federal government will unveil its tough, new anti-drug
policy, which is expected to fund a crackdown on grow-ops and dealers
instead of supporting harm-reduction measures such as injection sites.

The feasibility study, conducted by the Centre for Addictions Research
of B.C., concludes that creating supervised injection sites would
limit the spread of infectious diseases, and give users an area to
seek treatment.

Led by illicit-drug researcher Benedikt Fischer, the study suggests
Victoria set up three sites -- instead of one like InSite in Vancouver
- -- because they'd be smaller and less intrusive to the surrounding
neighbourhoods.

The sites would take users off the streets -- the needle exchange on
Cormorant Street has faced a rash of criticism because addicts loiter
outside, shooting up in broad daylight and leaving a trail of used
needles, garbage and human waste around the area.

The report is the second of two studies that will be used to apply to
Health Canada for an exemption to federal drug laws in order to
operate a safe injection pilot project in Victoria.

The other report, written by Vancouver Island Health Authority's chief
medical health officer Richard Stanwick and obtained by the Times
Colonist last year, concluded that safe injection sites in Victoria
would cost an estimated $1.2 million to operate annually -- saving
anywhere from $2.2 to $2.8 million in health-care costs.

There are an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 injection drug users in
Victoria.

Mayor Alan Lowe is keen to open multiple sites, perhaps even a mobile
one, to reach addicts where they shoot up. The sites won't reduce
crime but they'll help maintain order, he said.

However, the Harper government has questioned supervised injection
sites, saying the government shouldn't be in the business of aiding
drug abuse. Last September, InSite, located in Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside, was given a one-year extension to operate while the
government studied the issue.

Lowe said if the Conservatives quash the concept of supervised
injection sites, he'll continue to fight for it -- even if he has to
wait until there is a new government in Ottawa. "I firmly believe a
safe injection site is needed in the continuum of care," Lowe said.

"I believe they're closing the door on the option that may work and I
believe it should be given the chance," he said, adding the standard
ways of tackling drug abuse, through enforcement and more police
officers on the street, haven't worked for decades.

The new $300,000 feasibility study was commissioned by the City of
Victoria and Vancouver Island Health Authority, and funded by VIHA and
the B.C. government.