JURY IS OUT ON SITE FOR DRUG USERS

City cops are awaiting the results of a three-year pilot project to
determine if Vancouver's safe-injection site for intravenous drug users is
a success, says a deputy chief. And officials say Edmonton might look at a
similar centre if it's proven the Vancouver site is saving lives and
improving health without sacrificing community safety.

"The results that they have seen so far certainly indicate that (fewer)
people have died from overdoses because the actual injections are being
supervised," deputy Chief Mike Bradshaw said yesterday after councillors
discussed the issue at a committee meeting.

"But the full extent of the program ... that's too early to determine.

"We want to make sure we have a proper evaluation done before we would come
out and actively support it."

Vancouver's facility is North America's first government-sanctioned
supervised injection facility. Junkies can go there to inject intravenous
drugs with medical help nearby. They can also access addiction treatment
services on-site.

Mayor Stephen Mandel noted Edmonton would have to get special consideration
from the federal government for a centre that essentially turns a blind eye
to illegal drug use.

But Ward 5 Coun. Mike Nickel is adamantly opposed to setting up a
safe-injection site in Edmonton.

"It's just wrong," Nickel said. "I'm not here to advocate ever using
taxpayers' money to fund what I would call illegal activities."

Officials estimate there are about 7,000 intravenous drug users in Edmonton.