DRUG SITE ALMOST READY

Downtown Eastside Clinic Officially Opened With Huge Community Support

Curious drug users gathered outside as North America's first
supervised drug injection site officially opened on the Downtown
Eastside yesterday.

"I think it's great," said Melody Kitchener, 41, who is on a methadone
program to try to kick her 28-year heroin/cocaine habit.

"I only live about a hundred feet away. I usually use [in my
apartment] by myself but they tell us never to use alone because if
you take a pinch too much . . ."

There is massive public support for the site. Mayor Larry Campbell, a
former coroner, won a landslide election last year mainly on his
party's drug platform.

"This is a historic day for Vancouver and a turning point in our
approach to dealing with addictions," Campbell said.

The facility at 139 E. Hastings St., budgeted to cost $3.7 million to
build and operate until next spring, will be open to addicts 18 hours
a day in a week or so. Organizers expect 800 users a day -- or one
every 45 seconds.

Before sitting at one of 12 stainless-steel counters facing a large
mirror, each user will receive a free "rig" consisting of a syringe,
tourniquet, vial of water and spoon. Addicts bring their own drugs.

After they have fixed under the supervision of a nurse, they will be
led into a "chill out" room where they can talk with peer counsellors
and receive referrals for treatment.

The clinic is part of Vancouver's "four pillars" drug strategy -- harm
reduction, enforcement, prevention and treatment.

Police Chief Jamie Graham said police will enforce the law around the
clinic and eight officers will patrol the area.

"There will be no bubble zone for drug dealers" around the site, he
said.

It's unclear who is spearheading the two other pillars, prevention and
treatment.

"Prevention could be stronger and treatment could be stronger," said
Dr. Perry Kendall of the provincial steering committee responsible for
the new site.

Campbell said the prevention message is getting out to children,
adding that treatment facilities are available.

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority spokeswoman Viviana Zanocco said
the authority's Addiction Services department is being
reorganized.

"All four pillars are in place," she said.

She said there is a four-day wait to get into detox, where addicts
spend up to two weeks before being referred to residential treatment
centres for 28 days or longer.

There was at least one dissenter yesterday. Canadian Alliance MP Randy
White said the money spent on the project is just going toward
creating "a legal zone for drugs."