A MOTHER MAKES A CASE FOR THE INJECTION SITE

Summer, 1984: My 20-year-old son experimented with drugs and
overdosed.

Upon arriving at the hospital emergency department by ambulance, he
suffered cardio-pulmonary arrest. He was reanimated with
electro-shock, but remained comatose.

Hospitalized at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster for four
months. Slowly regained consciousness after seven weeks, but was left
with anoxic brain injury.

Transferred to the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver. Two
months as an patient, followed by four months as an outpatient, picked
up and brought home by HandyDart.

The last assessment from G.F. Strong stated: The anoxia resulted in
severe memory deficit, cognitive impairment, reduced coordination,
unable to keep track of time and plan tasks. He requires guidance in
all activities.

He, in all probability, will never be gainfully employed
again.

My son, who had worked and lived on his own, came to live with me. I
eventually resigned from my Post Office job, thus losing my income.
Otherwise, it would have cost the government thousands of dollars
monthly for his care.

Despite never-expected improvements, at 42, he's unable to live
independently.

Because of my eventual demise, government care looms, like a
frightening spectre, in his future.

The harm reduction at Insite, Vancouver's supervised injection
facility, should be obvious.

Not only are lives saves by the administration of oxygen, but cases
like my son's averted.