INJECTION SITE WOULD IMPROVE DOWNTOWN

The Victoria Chamber of Commerce's recent opposition to proposed
supervised-injection facilities is odd. Especially in a city which,
depending greatly on tourist dollars, can preserve the vitality of
its downtown by reducing the chance of visitors encountering the
depressing sight of someone injecting drugs.

The experience with InSite, Vancouver's supervised injection site, is
worth examining. Over 20 academic papers have been published in
peer-reviewed medical-science journals, presenting overwhelming
evidence that InSite prevents drug overdose deaths, limits the spread
of HIV and AIDS, reduces public disorder and does not increase crime
in the surrounding area.

The most recent piece of research even indicates that there is a
30-per-cent increase in the number of people entering detox and
methadone therapy as a result of using the injection site.

In Vancouver, revitalization efforts in Downtown Eastside
neighbourhoods have been helped by the presence of the injection site.

With a place to inject other than a city sidewalk, drug users move
away from the unpleasant glances of shoppers into the careful watch
of trained nurses devoted to delivering vital primary health-care
services to people who need it.

The bottom line for Victoria merchants is that injection sites could
be good for business. They help move drug use indoors, clearing the
way to the cash register for visiting, paying customers.

Nathan Allen,

Organizer, InSite for Community Safety,

Vancouver.