SAFE INJECTION SITES SUPPORTED BY MLA

Safe injection sites for Cowichan's drug addicts could be a good idea
if partnered with additions counseling, MLA Doug Routley says.

"I support injection sites as long as they're supported by
(addiction) services.

Addicts who injection sites people come in contact with are more
likely to access services, he said.

Routley's comments follow Wednesday's News Leader feature showing
crime, drug use and needle waste plaguing Duncan's Government
/Cairnsmore street area.

Safe syringe supply, use and disposal aside, Routley sees
injection-site outreach as a proactive way to help closet addicts too.

"It's better to give them (addiction) services now before they
crash," he says urging long-term provincial planning to help fix the
tragic effects of heroin, cocaine and other injected dope.

"Our community is coping as best it can but we need leadership from Victoria."

An addictions counselor was unavailable for comment by press time Friday.

Duncan Mayor Phil Kent agrees there's a hard-drug problem locally but
he wants more information about attacking the menace before taking a
stand on an injection site.

"I don't know enough about it. We need to explore solutions to all
these issues more aggressively," he said, noting a Cowichan needle
facility would need federal approval.

"Does Duncan have the resources to do it when it's a national issue?
I'm not sure where we'd fit it in with our other responsibilities and
the resources we have but we're definitely feeling the effects and
the Bruce's (Grocery) area is only one place affected."

"I think there's differing views on if (sites) are a benefit or not,"
Kent said of Vancouver's busy injection facility, but "We don't even
know if the one on the Lower Mainland will survive."

Funding to fight drug abuse is another thorny issue, he said, while
Canada's drug laws could be fine-tuned to combat the scourge after more study.

"I don't know if we've looked at enough other (addiction help) models
to address our problems through regulation.

"Pretty crime is a result of people feeding drug addictions but safe
injection doesn't deal with that side of it."