GOOD INTENTIONS AREN'T ENOUGH FOR SAFE-INJECTION SITE

Re: Safe-injection site set to open today, Sept. 15

I fear this safe-injection site in Vancouver will meet the needs of
frustrated health care professionals who despair that so many addicts
are beyond their help, of grieving families who want to see action to
prevent future overdose deaths and of politicians who compete for the
title of "most compassionate."

Will good intentions be enough when the nurses at the site are asked
to help put together their first crack cocaine/heroin speedball? Will
good intentions establish a medically sound policy for supervising
someone who comes to shoot heroin after smoking crack?

I cannot get past the sense that the harm reduction approach is just a
very compassionate way of giving up.

Grant Longhurst

Vancouver