INDEPENDENT STUDY NEEDED ON INJECTION SITES

Re: Closing Vancouver's Insite tantamount to murder (Letters, Sept. 7).

Dr. Keith Martin cites the success of the injection site in the
increased use of methadone and other forms of treatment and a lesser
use of the injection site itself.

What is lacking is an independent evaluation of the Vancouver site
and injection sites in general. In other words, what is the number of
people quitting drugs and not merely signing up for free methadone or
other programs?

Until Martin provides some evidence in that direction and not just
vague reference to "the experts," I would venture to guess that the
good doctor is himself ideologically driven.

Of course, the easiest thing in the world is to convince yourself
that your own motives are pure.

Kjell Nilsen

Victoria