GREEN LIGHT FOR FIRST SAFE-INJECTION SITE

Health Canada has given the green light for the City of Vancouver to open
the first safe-injection drug site in North America.

The East Hastings Street facility is currently under construction and
expected to open in September.

"Everybody in here should take great pride in this," Mayor Larry Campbell
announced yesterday to applause from the surprised gallery and councillors
at a city council meeting.

"It would be difficult if not impossible for me to imagine this initiative
having come to this point without [former mayor] Philip Owen."

Campbell's push for safe-injection sites and the Four Pillars strategy to
reduce drug addiction became the focus of last year's municipal election in
which the Coalition of Progressive Electors trounced the Non-Partisan
Association when the NPA appeared less than supportive of Owen and his
promotion of safe-injection sites.

Campbell said he is fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead.

"There's a part of me that says I'm prepared to try anything to save
people's lives and to help them overcome addiction," he said.

"We're not going to get rid of drug trafficking and drug addiction in the
city of Vancouver," added Campbell. "That's not going to happen.

"What we will do is get it under control and those people who are addicted
will be in a position to get the help they want."

Health Canada will provide up to $1.5 million over four years to evaluate
the project, which required an exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act.

The B.C. government is providing $1.2 million in capital funding to
renovate the premises. But to operate the facility it will annually require
$1.2 million to $1.5 million, money that has yet to be found.

The project will offer injection supervision with emergency response for
drug overdoses, injection-related first aid, access and referral to primary
health care, addiction treatment service, mental health providers and harm
reduction teaching and counselling.

Open 18 hours a day, it will be staffed at all times by a registered nurse,
a licensed practical nurse and addiction counsellor.

Although the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is the lead agency on the
project and applied for permission to set it up as a pilot program, it is
partnering with the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Police Department and
the Portland Hotel Society.