INSIGHTS INTO INSITE

When people ask me what it is like to work as a nurse at InSite,
Vancouver's Supervised Injection Site, it's hard not to tell "war
stories" such as reviving people from a drug overdose.

Many thoughts run through your head when holding another person's life
in your arms. You think about how you would tell family members that
their loved one has died, and how to explain why, not really knowing
the answer yourself.

Thankfully, there has never been a death at InSite. More than 450 drug
overdose interventions have taken place, and many of these lives would
otherwise have been lost.

But for every resuscitation, there are hundreds of smaller, human
victories. InSite staff spends most of the shift cleaning, ensuring
sterile supplies and relating with users on a personal level.

This connection brings out stories that do not make the news -- about
hopes, dreams, pride, shame, or simple reminiscences. InSite is a
place where stories can be shared with someone who cares.

Moo Sirisamatakarn is a registered nurse working at InSite.