TORONTO RALLY SETS SIGHTS ON B.C. SITE

Protesters Shine Light On Beleaguered Vancouver Facility For Drug Addicts

In Canada's largest city, on one of its busiest streets, a small pack
of AIDS activists disrupted traffic yesterday to fire up support for
a facility that helps West Coast drug addicts.

The protest was brief but earnest: About 50 people blocked
midafternoon traffic on Bloor Street and the corners of Bay and Yonge
Streets for two minutes. Their banners urged passersby to consider
that the safe injection site in Vancouver -- now under imminent
threat of closing pending a decision from the federal government --
saves lives.

Their flyers read: "We're sorry that we're blocking traffic today. .
. . But it's a matter of life and death."

Their aim was to take advantage of the media spotlight on the
International AIDS Conference to press Ottawa not to force Insite to
close when the legal exemption keeping it open expires on Sept. 12.

"The science is in on it. The Prime Minister just needs to realize
that," said Mark Townsend, a community worker at Insite.

"I've been to the site. I've seen the benefits," added Nick Boyce of
the AIDS Committee of Toronto, shortly after helping to block the
intersections amid the sound of blaring horns.

About 600 drug addicts visit Insite every day. They are provided with
clean needles and have access to nurses to treat their health
problems and to detoxification programs, if they want to quit.

While possession of heroin and some other drugs is illegal in Canada,
the provincially funded facility operates under an exemption from
Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

A spokesman for Health Minister Tony Clement said yesterday that a
decision will be made before the exemption expires Sept. 12.

"We're still assessing the site. So, once we're ready, we'll make our
announcement," said Erik Waddell, Mr. Clement's press secretary.

The safe injection site has its detractors, who say governments
should not facilitate drug use and that the sites enable addicts.

But, in the three years since the site took root in Vancouver's
beleaguered Downtown Eastside, it has gained many powerful
supporters, including the police, mayor, province and community groups.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan says the project has decreased public
disorder and helped connect drug users with the medical system.

"I think that we need to make policy decisions based on research and
evidence, not on ideology," he said from Vancouver yesterday.

"I know a lot of people have problems ideologically with this kind of
approach, but anybody who's spent much time dealing with [drug
affected] individuals and seen the impact on the community . . .
would come to the conclusion that this is indeed a very helpful initiative."

Insite supporters say research proves the site's effectiveness. Some
other cities, such as Victoria, are looking seriously at the idea,
but it remains the only one in Canada.

When the Toronto Drug Strategy was introduced at the end of 2005, one
recommendation included looking at the merits of a safe injection
site. However, Councillor Kyle Rae, who heads the city's drug
initiative, says chances are "slim" that it will be approved.

In contrast to Vancouver, where the problem street drug is heroin,
Toronto's major substance abuse problems centre on alcohol and crack cocaine.

"Here we have diffuse heroine users. The drug of choice is crack
cocaine, and crack doesn't have a methadone substitute," Mr. Rae said.

The Insite story

North America's first safe-injection facility, Insite, opened in
Vancouver on Sept. 12, 2003.

Staff include medical professionals and counsellors who supply clean
needles, medical treatment, advice and referrals to addiction
treatment and social services. They do not administer drugs or assist
in the injection of drugs, which happens in a 12-seat injection room.

The facility has made 4,084 referrals; 40 per cent to addiction counselling.

Average traffic is 607 injections a day.

Overdoses happen: more than 500 were recorded in a two-year period;
most were handled by staff; none led to a death.

The number of people registered at Insite is 7,278. Women make up 26
per cent of clients; while aboriginals comprise 18 per cent.

Heroin is used in 41 per cent of injections; 27 per cent is cocaine.

Rates of arrest for drug trafficking, assaults and robbery have
remained flat after the facility opened. Rates of vehicle break-ins
and theft have dropped.

The facility is supported by the Vancouver Police Department, the
City of Vancouver and the province. It was granted a three-year
operating exemption by the previous Liberal government under Section
56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. That exemption ends on Sept. 12.

Source: Vancouver Coastal Health