TORIES OPPOSE SAFE-INJECTION SITES FOR DRUGS

The Vancouver Sun will focus on an issue important to British
Columbians every day during the campaign. Today we look at the
different political views about safe-injection sites.

Last September, Vancouver opened the first safe-injection site in
North America.

The site, similar to ones in Europe and Australia, allows addicts to
inject drugs under the supervision of health workers.

Supporters argue the site's supervised environment reduces the risk of
deadly drug overdoses and will make it easier to put addicts in touch
with health services and drug treatment.

But critics argue the site encourages drug use and that the money
being put into the safe-injection site should instead go into
treatment programs to help people get off drugs.

The site was opened with the help of the federal Liberal government,
which provided $1.5 million to conduct a three-year trial to see what
impact the site will have on drug overdoses and HIV infections.

"There are benefits," said Shirley Chan, Liberal candidate for
Vancouver East. "It means there are clean needles that are under
control and not out in the community. It means there are fewer people
suffering from overdoses because they've been able to stop the
overdoses that take place ... There are also benefits to not having
these people out in the community shooting up in public."

The NDP also supports the site.

"It's had already some very positive impacts," said leader Jack Layton
on a recent visit to the Lower Mainland. "It's a positive step and
certainly it would have the encouragement and support of myself."

The Green party's platform says it supports harm-reduction measures
like the safe-injection site.

The Conservatives, however, are less enthusiastic.

Langley-Abbotsford Conservative MP Randy White says he doesn't even
like the term "safe-injection site."

"There's no such thing as a safe-injection site," said White. "It's
really an oxymoron. Injection sites are not safe. You're allowing
people to inject drugs into themselves so let's not call it that."

White said Ottawa needs to develop a national drug strategy that
emphasizes prevention and treatment before introducing harm-reduction
measures such as the injection site.

But even with such a strategy, said White, he's skeptical that
initiatives such as the injection site are worthwhile.

"In this country, rehabilitation and detox [are] poorly funded and
governments at all levels are just shying away from it," said White.
"I would rather spend my time and money and effort ... getting people
off of drugs, not maintaining them on drugs."

WHERE THE PARTIES STAND:

Liberals: It was the federal Liberal government that provided $1.5 million
last year to help Vancouver open the safe-injection site and conduct a
three-year study of its impact on drug overdoses and HIV infection.
Vancouver East Liberal candidate Shirley Chan says the party is encouraged
by the initial results from the site.

Conservatives: Langley-Abbotsford Conservative MP Randy White says the
government should invest in drug treatment programs to help people get off
drugs instead of putting money into safe-injection sites.

NDP: NDP leader Jack Layton says his party supports Vancouver's
safe-injection site.

Greens: The Green party's platform says the party would encourage provinces
to "create safe-injection clinics, needle exchanges and access to safe doses
for certified addicts."