PM WRONG TO OPPOSE SAFE-INJECTION SITE

During Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent visit, the issue of
Victoria having a safe-injection site was put on the table. Harper
stated that he is "not committed" to such an endeavour and needs more research.

This is no surprise as he and his Conservative party have repeatedly
voiced their opposition to safe-injection sites, preferring to take a
moralistic approach to those who have substance-abuse problems, and
to see these individuals as being a judicial problem rather than
having a medical problem.

Victoria has approximately 1,500 IV drug abusers. Dr. Richard
Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Vancouver Island, has a
proposal to start a safe injection site/harm reduction strategy for
the city. This is the right thing to do.

The program will save lives, reduce disease rate, reduce crime and
integrate people with substance-abuse problems into society. It not
only includes a safe site where these drugs are dispensed, but
counsellors, detox, psychiatric assistance, skills training, job
assistance and accommodation.

This plan, which is similar to successful programs in Europe, will
help people get off drugs and become productive, reintegrated members
of society.

It is not enough to just give a person struggling with these
challenges a place away from the street to inject drugs; we must also
give them the tools to help them get back on their feet. Harper must
stop moralizing, look at the facts and do the right thing for these
individuals who are frequently voiceless and fall through the cracks
of society. Lives depend on it.

Dr. Keith Martin, MP,

Esquimalt - Juan de Fuca.