VANCOUVER SAFE INJECTION SITE A SUCCESS: REPORT

VANCOUVER -- Another study has found North America's only safe
injection site can be considered a qualified success after a year of
operation. A study published yesterday in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal found the site cut down on the number of people
shooting up in public in the Downtown Eastside.

As well, there were fewer discarded syringes and injection-related
litter in the neighbourhood.

"Our observations suggest that the establishment of the safer
injecting facility has resulted in measurable improvements in public
order, which in turn may improve the livability of communities and
benefit tourism while reducing community concerns stemming from public
drug use and discarded syringes," the study found.

It was conducted by researchers at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in
HIV-AIDS.

Its release comes just after a study last week that found the safe
injection site "has saved lives and improved lives."

The report, which was also prepared by the centre, said the site now
averages nearly 600 injections a day.

No deaths have occurred at the site, although between March 10 and
Aug. 20 there were 107 overdoses among 72 clients.

The site, dubbed Insite, was opened Sept. 22, 2003, and has been given
the go-ahead to operate on a three-year trial basis by all three
levels of government.