INJECTION SITES COMING TO VICTORIA?

The day when safe injection sites for intravenous drug users are
seriously considered in Greater Victoria isn't here yet, but Victoria
police Chief Paul Battershill says the city may be considered as a
location if a trial program due to start in Vancouver this year goes
well.

"If the feedback is positive," he says, "then it may be looked at
here." The Vancouver program, one of three six-month pilot projects in
Canada - others are slated for Montreal and Toronto - will produce a
report to be used for other potential locations, says
Battershill.

Victoria's police chief got details on the program during a municipal
forum on safe injection sites held in Ottawa March 25 by Health Canada.

Battershill, Dr. Linda Poffenroth of the Vancouver Island Health
Authority and Victoria's community services director Wendy Zink
attended the conference. What they heard is that Victoria is being
considered as a secondary city for a safe injection site trial program
once results from the first three sites are reviewed.