THEY WOULD REDUCE THE RISK DOWNTOWN

Re: "Needle drop-box idea irks Victoria council," July 7.

Victoria needn't worry about advertising drug use downtown. It's
here. Whether you see needles lying around or needle drop-boxes,
intravenous drug use is here and its causing tremendous harm.

Our downtown residents live with drug use on our streets, in our
parking lots and alcoves. We are here in the morning before others
arrive to go to work. We see needles all the time. We deal with users
shooting up, walking our streets, sleeping in our doorways. We are
tolerant but we are frustrated because we know that the problem
requires a harm-reduction strategy that is not being facilitated.

The city desperately needs safe injection sites, addiction treatment
centres and social assisted housing. Abundant placement of needle
drop-boxes would give a positive indication that the harm reduction
strategy that was endorsed by the July 2005 city-commissioned report,
Fitting the pieces together: Towards an integrated harm reduction
response to illicit intravenous drug use in Victoria, will be facilitated.

Council must send a loud and clear message to the Vancouver Island
Health Authority, the premier, and the prime minister. Let the yellow
boxes show that Victoria will not put its head in the sand when it
comes to the immense social problem of drug addiction.

Here's an opportunity to take action and show leadership. Take this
one step to facilitate the reduction of drug-related harm downtown.
It is a safety issue and placement of needle-boxes is a harm
reduction action. The yellow boxes would be the first positive public
sign of a step in the right direction.

Sandra Meigs, chairwoman,

Victoria Downtown Residents' Association.