SYRINGE DROP BOXES MAKE SENSE FOR CITY

But A Safe Injection Site And More Treatment Are The Real Solutions To Problem

Victoria city council's frustration over the lack of support from
provincial and federal governments in dealing with drug addiction is
understandable. Its decision to reject a simple measure to keep used
syringes off the streets isn't.

The city's social planning committee wants drop boxes for needles put
up on some city streets, a step that could ease the safety and
livability problems created by discarded syringes. The needles would
be safely disposed of by the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

The drop boxes are no magic solution.

But they are cheap, simple and have proven effective in reducing the
number of discarded syringes in other cities. Calgary's five-year-old
network of yellow disposal boxes captures about 22,000 syringes a year.

The benefits are broad. Neighbourhoods don't have to deal with
discarded syringes, one of the creepier urban blights. City workers
and others are spared the health risk of dealing with needles tossed
in a garbage pail or vacant lot. And drug users are kept safer.
Needles dropped in the boxes won't wind up being re-used, reducing
the risk of infection and disease transmission.

So what's the objection?

Appearances, it seems. Coun. Dean Fortin said the boxes might make
the city, or a neighbourhood, look bad, a signal that it's unsafe.

It's a tough argument to follow. The boxes can be discrete, barely
noticeable unless you're looking for one. And surely discarded
needles are a much more alarming symbol of urban safety problems than
a small yellow box bolted to a lamppost.

In any case, we should be past the point of trying to hide the
evidence of drug problems.

Council is right to keep pushing for a much broader response to drug
and addiction problems. Detox and treatment options are still
inadequate, meaning even people who want to quit using can't get
help. Needle exchange programs could be expanded with additional funding.

And Victoria needs a drug court and a safe injection site, both
stalled by senior levels of government.

Drug courts recognize that addictions cause most property crime.
Typically, non-violent offenders admit their guilt and volunteer for
treatment. Judges defer sentencing as long as they are making
progress -- attending treatment, passing drug tests and staying out of trouble.

The emphasis is on support, including quick access to rehab programs.
Stay the course and the judge might well grant a discharge. Mess up,
and offenders are sentenced as they were in a normal court setting.

And safe-injection sites have been proven successes. Studies of
Vancouver's three-year experiment show it has saved lives, made the
community safer and resulted in more addicts entering treatment. The
future of that project --and the chances of a safe-injection site for
Victoria -- are threatened because Prime Minister Stephen Harper does
not like the idea.

Frustrating, certainly. But no excuse for inaction on small, simple
steps like needle drop boxes that can make life in the city better right now.