SAFE-INJECTION SITE NEEDED, COUNCILLOR SAYS

A safe-injection site should be given a serious look as a way to get drug
addicts off the streets, out of the alleyways, and away from downtown
businesses, says Coun. Brian Skakun.

"We have to look at a place for people doing drugs using needles, and keep
it more contained and manage it better," he said. "We're not going to get
rid of the problem. How do we manage it?"

During Monday's council meeting, Skakun said more work needs to be done on
social issues downtown before the city starts investing more money into
redeveloping it.

Two days later, as Skakun and another person were checking a problem area
downtown, he came across someone getting his fix.

"I just couldn't believe it," Skakun said. "I was showing this person this
certain area where I have concerns and there was a guy in this bush
shooting up. I've never witnessed that and it was really tough to see. We
have addicts who need help, they're on their own, they're on the street,
and how can we deal with that?"

The site wouldn't necessarily have a roof over it, Skakun said.

"It could be a chunk of property outdoors somewhere, away from businesses
where the addicts can go and do their thing. They can maybe be better
monitored by health authorities and we're not going to have unsafe, used
needles laying around," he said.

Although common in Europe, the first safe-injection site in North America
is set to open Monday in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

The concept is controversial. Opponents argue they simply facilitate drug
use and argue more treatment and detox centres are a better strategy.
Supporters say they help users stay alive until they decide to go into
treatment and they bring new users into contact with health services where
they can get help.

Northern Health Authority chief medical officer Dr. Lorna Medd said she'll
be keeping an eye on the Vancouver experiment.

"I'm hoping that it will work, and if it does, it's certainly something
that I would want to support in the northern part of the province," she said.

Medd said safe-injection sites could become another tool in a range of
options that should be provided for needle users, and they include
immunizations, needle exchanges, counselling and medical care.

"It should not be seen as a single approach used in isolation from the
whole spectrum of support," she said, adding the strategy should be "made
in Prince George, not a cookie cutter."