VIHA SHOULD PUT HARM REDUCTION AT TOP OF PRIORITIES

The Vancouver Island Health Authority has not done much to inspire
confidence among Island residents over the years, yet the work of
administering health programs continues.

The latest news from VIHA is the decision to provide crack pipes and
other drug paraphernalia at local health centres.

Though VIHA made a blunder several years ago when they tried handing
out crack pipes to Nanaimo addicts, this time it seems that the health
authority may have done its homework.

There seems to be no doubt that such a program is necessary. Even when
the initial effort was scuttled after an outcry from residents and
assertions from the city they were not consulted, no one argued with
the need for harm prevention.

The problem at that time was the way VIHA went about setting up the
program.

Today, not much has changed in regard to VIHA's justification for this
program. It is, they argue, much more effective in terms of human
suffering and money to invest in crack pipes and needles by preventing
the transmission of such diseases as HIV, hepatitis and
tuberculosis.

There are those who say that spending such money is only facilitating
and even encouraging drug abuse. They would rather their tax dollars
were not put to use in what they consider to be supporting drug addiction.

VIHA has been very clear in this case. The harm-reduction model has
been tried and considered a success in cities all over the world. And
in Nanaimo, VIHA, through NARSF that runs Harris House on Franklyn
Street, has had success in running a facility that has proven itself.

Concerns aired when Harris House opened early in 2009, again with no
consultation from VIHA with the city, were loud enough that a way has
been found to minimize the impact of that service to surrounding businesses.

Whether VIHA can emulate what Harris House has done is hard to say,
because it seems that it is the efforts of NARSF, not VIHA, that have
made that facility a success.

For whatever reason, and there are many, drug addiction is a serious
problem in nearly every city in North America and Europe.

While it would be helpful for health agencies and authorities to
participate in the debate about how to end this plague, the first
obligation of organizations like VIHA is to the health of substance
abusers and the community at large.

No doubt that if there were spiralling illnesses and associated costs
resulting from the impaired health of drug addicts, and VIHA had a
simple way to prevent such illnesses, the public would have a right to
chastise VIHA then, too.

While the corporate dysfunction seems to continue at VIHA
headquarters, we cannot forget that there are competent and dedicated
people who continue to work on the front lines and it is they who will
administer and oversee the distribution of crack pipes and other drug
paraphernalia.

It appears that such a harm-reduction strategy is needed and
important, and it is also important that the public in Nanaimo be
vigilant about the effects.

Due to the haphazard management of VIHA, there is a real need that the
organization be held to close scrutiny and strict account by taxpayers.

The fundamental point to remember though is that if it is done right,
this service can be a benefit to the community.

Until our politicians get the will and the police get the means, it
looks like drugs are going to be with us a while longer.