SAFE INJECTION SITES DENOUNCED AND SUPPORTED

Re: 'Harm Reduction' Doesn't Work, editorial, May 29.

The information cited about the European experience with harm
reduction is factually incorrect. The European Union drug strategy
explicitly identifies harm reduction as one of its goals. Supervised
consumption facilities have expanded in the past decade in countries
such as Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and
Switzerland.

Harm reduction is an effective and proven component of public health
practice and a balanced four-pillars approach to drug policy.
Methadone maintenance, needle exchanges and supervised injection sites
have been proven to reduce the risk for HIV and to engage vulnerable
individuals in health and social services.

It is for this reason that the B.C. government has endorsed harm
reduction as a core aspect of its drug policy, as did a multi-year,
multi-stakeholder consultation process done by Health Canada prior to
the election of the new Harper government in 2006.

Canadians who value fiscal responsibility, effective use of public
resources and compassion for those struggling with addictions would do
well to ignore your unfounded attack on evidence based harm reduction
policies.

P.R.W. Kendall, Provincial Health Officer, Victoria.