JURY STILL OUT ON SAFE INJECTION SITES

If the city is giving serious consideration to introducing safe
injection sites to Edmonton, it had better make sure it does its
homework first.

There will be no shortage of controversy if a facility which allows
intravenous drug users to inject themselves in a safe, sterile
environment opens its doors in the Capital City.

For every person who believes safe injection sites are a necessary and
proactive measure to reduce drug overdose deaths and to cut down the
spread of diseases like HIV, there will likely be three others who see
the facility as a dangerous endorsement of illegal drug use, serving
only to increase Edmonton's growing drug problem.

True, the city doesn't have any plans in the works to introduce a safe
injection site in the immediate future.

In fact, the issue was only put in the spotlight earlier this month
after a city report was released in response to an inquiry by Coun.
Michael Phair about Vancouver's safe-injection pilot project.

But during discussions of the issue, it was clear that some
councillors would at least be willing to consider implementing a
similar program in Edmonton under the right circumstances.

Fortunately, Edmonton will be in the position to make an informed
decision if civic officials are willing to exercise some patience.

Vancouver's safe injection site -- the first government sanction
facility of its kind in North America -- is still in its infancy.

While initial results are positive, there are still two years of
analysis left in the pilot project.

It would be foolhardy for Edmonton to try to follow suit before the
pilot project is concluded and an in-depth examination of the data is
completed to determine if the overall impact on the community is
beneficial in the long run.

Will the injections sites merely serve as a means to reduce overdoses
and infections among drug users, or can the facilities actually help
reduce the level of drug use by encouraging addicts to seek
counselling? Even if the Vancouver project continues to get favourable
reviews, a safe injection facility would have to overcome many
obstacles before it would be allowed to set up shop in Edmonton.

There would have to be a significant level of support not only from
the City of Edmonton, but from Capital Health, the federal and
provincial governments who would have to help fund the project, the
general public and the Edmonton Police Service.

The project would be destined to fail if all of the community's
stakeholders don't buy into idea. And in Conservative minded Alberta,
that is going to be a tough sell indeed.