AIDS GROUP PUSHES FOR INJECTION SITES

A local support group for AIDS sufferers hopes to convince the city to
establish safe drug injection sites.

Jessie MacGregor, executive director with the AIDS Society of Kamloops,
said there's been little to no discussion on the controversial issue. She
plans to raise it at the next Kamloops community action team meeting,
formerly the city's sex-trade strategy committee.

"It's an area that council should definitely look at. That, along with
other areas, such as installing boxes for used needles," she said after a
presentation to council Tuesday.

"But establishing safe-injection sites is a touchy subject. I know there
are councillors S who were disgusted by what I said."

Mayor Mel Rothenburger admitted he doesn't know enough about the issue to
comment.

"All I can say is that enforcement is not always the answer," he said in
relation to intravenous drug users.

MacGregor said a safe-injection site would mean no overdoses or deaths.
Health-care workers would also be available to ensure safety. She noted
cities in Europe that have introduced safe-injection sites experienced a
significant drop in crime.

MacGregor earlier suggested to councillors that Kamloops' drug problem is
near "out of control" and more needs to be done to stem the tide of drug abuse.

"We have tremendous cocaine and heroin use in Kamloops. It's very sexy and
very popular to inject cocaine," she said.

MacGregor also sounded the alarm regarding the escalating number of cases
of HIV and AIDS in the city.

"For all of the community education S the number of new infections are
rising and multi-drug resistance is also rising. Over the last 10 years,
the number of infections went down, plateaued and now they are sky-rocketing."

Although MacGregor didn't ask the city outright for money, she did suggest
her organization should partner with the city to tackle the problem.

"I think we need billboards, multiple messaging in public documents and
even bylaws affecting developers," she said.

"If Nike can sell me running shoes based on billboards and flashy ads, then
surely to God we can get the message out" regarding condoms and safe sex.