INJECTION SITES MORE APPEALING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S BACKYARD

Objectively, the question asked in The Sun-Ipsos-Reid survey was very, very
soft (Injection sites supported, but with treatment, Dec. 28). How many
people supported the question "Would you generally support or oppose the
establishment of a safe injection site in your municipality?", all the
while assuming it would not affect them. Of course, a site would be off in
some remote corner of their municipality.

More definitive questioning would include "Would you support a safe
injection site in your neighbourhood?" and then "Would you support a safe
injection site on your street?" and maybe even "Would you support a safe
injection site next door?" Such questions would determine how strong
support truly is for these sites.

I suspect that people feel more should be done to counter heroin addiction
than the present strategy provides for, thus, the response to your poll.
But they would be less supportive as safe injection sites came closer to
their backyard.

I think that such a poll should be conducted across the Lower Mainland to
determine where the support lies. Larry Campbell was elected mayor of
Vancouver, not the Lower Mainland. Injection sites weren't even an election
issue outside the confines of Vancouver; however, if support for safe
injection sites is evident across the Lower Mainland, all politicians in
the region should be made aware of it and deal with it.

Allen Batchelar

Surrey