DOPER HAVENS TAKE A SHOT

Centres Would Boost Drug Abuse: Holyday

Some city councillors plan to shoot down a proposal to make it easier for
drug users to shoot up.

Health Canada announced this weekend that it is reviewing guidelines under
which cities could make proposals to open safe-injections centres for drug
addicts.

Yesterday, Toronto Councillor Doug Holyday said he strongly opposes
government-funded injection sites because they do nothing more than
encourage substance abuse.

"I want to see statistics that show it is beneficial to a lot of people,"
Holyday said.

"It is aiding and abetting drug abuse and saying it will help the problem
is a far stretch."

However, Councillor Joe Mihevc, chairman of the Toronto health board, said
the safe-injection houses need to be regarded as a harm-reduction plan.

"At first glance it seems unusual but it has worked in other
jurisdictions," Mihevc said. "It's wrong for the public to see this as the
government promoting drug use -- it's not the case."

Mihevc said the main issues are diseases contracted from needle-sharing. A
safe-injection site would provide intravenous drug users with trained
medical professionals to monitor the injection of drugs.

The safe houses are intended to help drug users establish relationships
with doctors who can help them get off drugs.

By the end of the year, it is expected that Health Minister Anne McLellan
will be accepting proposals from individual cities to establish
safe-injection centres.