DRUG USERS AIM FOR SUPERVISED SITE

Fledgling Group Starts Fundraising for Harm-Reduction Centre

Illicit drug users and former users will lead a new Victoria
organization that is aiming to open a harm reduction centre with
supervised drug consumption services.

Those who have the experience and knowledge of drug use should be
involved in shaping services, said Heather Hobbs of Harm Reduction
Victoria, one of the organizers of the Victoria Harm Reduction
Resource Centre Society.

The fledgling society will start fundraising at a July 17 event, with
the goal of being able to offer comprehensive services, Hobbs said.
"We envision a space where people who use drugs are welcomed by their
peers and where they can access dignified, practical health supports."

Hobbs believes there is public backing for supervised injection
because lack of supports leads to problems on the street.

The grassroots move is needed because of the failure of Vancouver
Island Health Authority, the city of Victoria and the province to
provide a fixed site needle exchange and other services, said society
spokeswoman Tamara Herman.

"We remain outraged that the most basic, essential health services
are still beyond reach for many," she said. "We've decided it's time
to act independently to ensure these essential services are offered
in accordance with all of the leading evidence and in a manner that
maintains the dignity of people who use drugs."

The new society will be able to act freely because it will not rely
on funding from government, Herman said.

After two years without a fixed-site needle exchange, VIHA plans to
have exchanges in 10 community facilities on Vancouver Island
operating by September.

Four of those will be on southern Vancouver Island, but they will be
low-volume sites and avoid street problems that scuttled the previous
fixed site on Cormorant Street, said VIHA spokeswoman Shannon Marshall.

Eventually, 60 sites will be phased in on Vancouver Island, she said.

"The goal is to normalize harm reduction. It needs to be part of
everyday health services," she said.

However, supervised drug consumption sites is a stickier problem.

At a recent board meeting, VIHA president Howard Waldner reaffirmed
that the goal is to provide harm reduction services to illicit drug
users, but noted supervised consumption sites continue to be illegal
without an exemption from the federal government.

Marshall said the board reviewed the possibility of such sites in
2008 but did not take a position and there are no immediate plans to
reconsider the issue.

"It would depend on the federal government giving its support and
there's no indication that would be considered."