VANCOUVER'S SAFE DRUG-INJECTION SITE APPLAUDED

But Experts Fear Project Will Be Closed

A room full of scientists and AIDS activists gave a standing ovation
Tuesday to a Vancouver HIV expert who reported that the city's
controversial safe drug-injection site had been a resounding success.

Another researcher participating in the same emotional session warned
that the federal government will have "blood on its hands" if it
closes down the project now.

The International AIDS Conference presentation came just days before
the Conservative government must decide to either let the facility
continue with a special exemption to the Criminal Code, or shut its doors.

Insite is the first project in North America to allow drug addicts to
inject heroin and other narcotics under medical supervision.

The project has cut crime in its Downtown Eastside neighbourhood,
reduced the number of overdose deaths, made potentially fatal needle
sharing less common -- and not encouraged more drug use, said Dr. Tom
Kerr of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, which evaluated
the project.

"This facility should remain open," he said.

"We're less than 30 days to the potential closure of the facility,
which is very disturbing to the community. A lot of valuable
information could be lost if we don't have an answer soon. So we are waiting."

He said the initial Criminal Code exemption expires on Sept. 11, and
the federal government has yet to say whether it will renew the permit.

Stephanie Strathdee, a University of California professor who also
studies HIV among injection-drug users, told the session she was
proud of the project.

"If the Canadian government, which has turned conservative of late,
closes this down, they will have blood on their hands," Davies said.

As the conference session shifted further from science to advocacy,
Libby Davies, the NDP MP whose riding encompasses the facility,
predicted "chaos" if Insite is closed down.

Tony Clement, the health minister, is attending the conference, but
would not comment on the controversy, saying only the project's
future is under review.

Some Conservative MPs are reportedly concerned the existence of such
a centre effectively legitimizes and encourages hard drug use among
young people.

"In 35 years of medical research, this is the single most successful
project I've ever been engaged in," said Dr. Julio Montaner, director
of the B.C. Centre for Excellence and president-elect of the
International AIDS Society.