SAFE INJECTION SITE SUPPORTED

47% Of Edmontonians Think They're A Good Idea: Survey

Nearly half of Edmontonians support the idea of establishing a
safe-injection site for intravenous drug users in the city, according
to a new survey.

It comes at a time when park rangers are picking up three times the
number of discarded syringes in the river valley compared to just a
few years ago -- suggesting the problem is getting worse.

"Addiction is not going to go away," Roy Aldridge, a recovering
heroin and speed addict, who's been clean for about a year, told Sun
Media today.

Hepatitis C

The 55-year-old, who contracted Hepatitis C from intravenous drug
use, said he would be in favour of a so-called safe injection site,
where users can shoot up without fear of being arrested, and under
the supervision of trained staff.

"Drug use has been here since Adam stole the apple from the Garden of
Eden, that was his addiction," said Aldridge, who now uses a
needle-exchange service offered by Streetworks so he can inject his
Hep C medication safely.

A recent Canada West Foundation survey found 47% of Edmontonians
think safe injection sites are a good or very good idea.

The survey polled Canadians in seven major cities -- six in the west,
plus Toronto.

It found support for safe injection sites ranged from a low of 42% in
Winnipeg to a high of nearly 55% in Vancouver.

However, when respondents were asked to rank potential responses to
illegal drug activity, safe injection sites ranked well below
increased law enforcement and increased programs for addicts.

Prevents spread of disease

Proponents of safe injection sites have long argued they help prevent
the spread of disease and overdoses.

Darren Grove, supervisor of Edmonton's park ranger unit, said while
he doesn't have any hard numbers, he figures workers are picking up
1,000 to 1,500 discarded needles in the river valley each year.

The last time the city had hard numbers was in 2005, when officials
collected 497 needles from park areas, most of them around homeless
camps.

"Absolutely there is a concern," Grove said. "We don't want to have
someone stumble across them and accidentally get struck with a needle."

Marliss Taylor, who speaks for Streetworks, said while the group
isn't pushing for a safe injection site, it would welcome one. "We're
not hopeful it will happen here at this time," she conceded, noting
the federal government appears opposed to the concept.

The country's only official safe injection site is in Vancouver.