SAFE-INJECTION SITE NEEDS RESEARCH

It's an innocent enough request.

The Aids Society of Kamloops submitted a formal request Friday for a
city grant to fund a research project.

However, it's not just any research project. The society wants to look
into intravenous drug use in the city and examine whether a safe
injection site would make a difference.

"We feel it's an issue that needs to be explored more fully in our
city," ASK president Gordon Tarzwell says.

He's quick to add it's not a pitch for a safe injection site; it's
just an assessment. "It's collecting the information so the
politicians can make a decision."

However, Tarzwell is keenly aware of the controversy surrounding safe
injection sites. Subsequently, he's not about to release any more
details about the society's proposal to city hall, saying he doesn't
want to compromise the social planning council in making its decision.
The committee is the one charged with making recommendations to city
council on social-planning grants.

Safe injection sites are places where drug addicts can shoot up
without fear of prosecution. There are none operating in Canada but
they have been experimented with in Europe.

Proponents say the sites reduce the risk of drug overdose deaths since
injections are supervised by medical personnel. The sites are also
purported to help reduce the transmission of blood-borne diseases like
HIV and Hepatitis B and C and act as a link to treatment and support
services.

In a preliminary proposal to the planning council, Ken Salter with the
AIDS society wrote there were 80 overdose deaths in 2001 in Kamloops.

Of those, however, nine were for illicit drug use, according to the
British Columbia Coroner's Office.

"I'm of mixed emotions," says Barry James, when asked if Kamloops
needs a safe injection site.

James is an HIV/AIDS liaison worker with the Native Health
Centre.

"We're still a small town," says James, and nowhere near to having the
problems facing Vancouver's east side, a place being looked at as a
possible trial balloon for a safe injection site.

The city, meanwhile, will already get its first taste of the debate on
this issue Tuesday when former city council candidate Merle Terlesky
makes a presentation.

He'd rather see a community round table established than have ASK
conduct an assessment. "I believe ASK would have a biased
approached."

Terlesky, meanwhile, is opposed to safe injection sites.

"We don't enable alcoholics by giving them an ice cold glass and
alcohol, and yet we're thinking about doing this with drug addicts."