SAINT JOHN LEADS ADDICTION FIGHT

While the federal government is locked in an ideological battle to
shut down a safe drug injection site in Vancouver, community leaders
in Saint John are taking a more pragmatic view. The test of any
addiction treatment program is the results it generates for addicts
and society - and based on the success of methadone treatment in Saint
John, safe injection may one day be employed as an option.

Enlarge Photo Safe injection sites are places where people addicted to
opiate drugs such as Dilaudid or heroin can use these substances
legally, under medical supervision. There are about 60 such centres
worldwide. The process is designed to reduce the spread of disease,
prevent deaths by drug overdose and help addicts into other treatment
programs. The Vancouver program is the only safe injection site in
Canada, but if it survives a federal challenge at the Supreme Court
level, other cities could emulate it.

In Saint John, the community of drug users is still fairly small, but
the community continues to look for ways to reduce the impact of addiction.

Last year, in a bid to improve access for the large number of addicts
seeking treatment, a methadone clinic opened at St. Joseph's Community
Health Centre. It offers no counselling, referring addicts to other
services. This model has worked elsewhere, and the decision has
received praise from addiction researchers as far afield as New York
City.

A safe injection site would extend treatment options to addicts who
aren't prepared to quit just yet, while limiting the community health
impact of addiction.

Last year, AIDS Saint John distributed more than 200,000 clean needles
to drug users in the area - an indication of the demand for a safe
injection site. Medical ethicist Dr. Tim Christie says there are about
750 drug users in the area who could use treatment, and believes there
would be no downside to a safe injection site. Julie Dingwell, the
executive director of AIDS Saint John, agrees. And Police Chief Bill
Reid says he would consider supporting the idea if proponents can
demonstrate that a safe injection site would reduce crime, as
methadone treatment programs have.

Saint John's health, justice and non-profit sectors are working
together to find effective remedies for opiate drug abuse at the
community level. If safe injection sites would yield better results,
the city should be free to investigate the option.