SAFE DRUG SITES PUSHED FOR USERS

Intravenous drug users need safe injection sites to shoot up to help stop a
"crisis" in the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and overdoses, activists say.

In 1999, 34% of Canada's new HIV infections were among intravenous drug
users, as were 60% of new hepatitis C infections, according to a Canadian
HIV/AIDS Legal Network report released yesterday.

In Alberta in 2000, 44% of new HIV cases were IV drug users, said Kevin
Midbo, the network's president and executive director of AIDS Calgary.

"We estimate there are 6,000 intravenous drug users in Calgary -- that
ranges from recreational, weekend users to hardcore addicts," Midbo said.

Safeworks Calgary exchanges needles and offers public health to 4,000
users, said program co-ordinator Virginia Wheeler.

But she said if clients could take their drugs in a safe environment, with
more access to counselling and health connections, it could help push them
to fight their addiction.

A safe site is likely at least two years away, Wheeler said.

Alberta Health spokesman Howard May said while the transmission of diseases
through IV use is a serious health concern, federal criminal laws make it
impossible for them to consider such sites right now.