Minister drops in at safe injection site

Started by Russ, Jan 04 07 10:05

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Russ

 [DIV class=feed_details] [H4]Good renew it you retards.[/H4] [A href="vny!://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=24207915-c1ea-4e48-b69d-38866d2d39aa"]vny!://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=24207915-c1ea-4e48-b69d-38866d2d39aa[/A]

 [H4] [H2][img id=storyphoto height=317 alt="Federal Health Minister Tony Clement asked questions of Insite's staff and Downtown Eastside users." src="vny!://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20070104/53874-21861.jpg" width=408 border=0][/H2][/H4] [H4] [H2]Minister drops in at injection site[/H2] [H4]Conservative Tony Clement meets Insite staff and addicts[/H4]Gerry Bellett, Vancouver Sun[/H4]Published: Thursday, January 04, 2007

[DIV class=para12 id=article] VANCOUVER - Federal Health Minister Tony Clement paid an unexpected visit to Vancouver's controversial supervised injection site in the Downtown Eastside Wednesday, but left without indicating if it would be permitted to operate beyond the end of the year.

 "I had a good chat with staff, asked a lot of questions and got a lot of answers," Clement said. "That helps me do my job as health minister and to report accurately what these facilities on the east side of Vancouver are all about," he said on the pavement outside Insite, which is North America's only legal drug-injection site.

 Clement was non-committal when asked if the visit had changed his mind about allowing Insite to remain open.

 "I think I'm getting a deeper understanding [of the centre] and this is something that will enable me to be the best health minister for the country," he said, after talking to staff and addicts inside.

 In the past, the minister had expressed doubts that the centre lowers drug use in the community or helps fights addiction. The Harper government had threatened not to renew the site's licence -- it exempts persons inside Insite from being arrested for possession of drugs -- when its permit expired last September. Clement finally renewed it until next Dec. 31.

 While Clement was inside Insite Wednesday, a steady parade of addicts entered.

 Addicts are allowed to inject themselves with heroin, cocaine, morphine and other street drugs they bring into the centre. The injections take place in 12 injection stalls using needles provided by staff who supervise injections to prevent overdoses. Since the centre opened in September, 2003. about 7,000 people have used it.

 Supporters say studies have shown the centre attracts users who would likely be HIV-positive, prone to overdosing and likely to inject in public. Supporters also say the centre has reduced public drug use, the number of discarded syringes in public places and syringe sharing by addicts.

 The federal government provided $1.5 million for scientific studies into the centre by the B.C. Centre For Excellence in HIV-AIDS. That research said social benefits of having the centre include a drop in hospital visits from overdoses, a reduction in ambulance costs and a reduction in persons dying from overdoses.

 Clement began Wednesday touring the Salvation Army detox and homeless centres in the Downtown Eastside. Staff at Insite only received short notice that he would visit the centre. He arrived shortly after 10 a.m. and stayed for about half an hour.

 "It was a surprise visit -- we were only notified a short time before he came -- but we are impressed and happy he was here," said Chris Buchner, manager of Vancouver Coastal Health HIV/AIDS Harm Reduction Programs.

 Buchner said addicts told Clement the importance "of having access to this place, how it adds dignity to their lives and how it's a critical health service."

 "He asked a lot of questions and was interested and impressed that we could demonstrate that this is an access point to addictions treatment," Buchner said. "People just don't jump from the gutter to abstinence. You need a ladder to get there and there are several intermediary steps and the first step is to bring people here.

 "When we get them we try to maximize those opportunities [for treatment] and I think that really spoke to him [Clement]."

 [email protected]

 [DIV align=center]© The Vancouver Sun 2007[/DIV][/DIV]
Mercy to the Guilty is Torture to the Victims

kitten

I hope he will listen to reason, but I still have my doubts.
Thousands of years ago cats were worshipped.  They have not forgotten.

Russ

So do I but this is my biggest and to be honest really only worry about the conservatives.

  After all the info collected, and proven that it works and cuts down on medical bills, Harper goes and wants to shut it down?

  Im sorry but the police state method we have been using and the North Korean militaristic approach of the US obviously isnt working, so... why not try a new approach.. that is working?

  The RCMP disappoints me greatly in this. But then again, they are probably still upset they have no jourisdiction in Vancouver.

  I voted conservative if it matters, and I am happy with what they have done for the most part. Some issues, but this is the only contention I have with them. Alot better than Jean Poutine.. that guy would have built himself a gold statue of himself if he could have gotten away with it. Thats all he was in it for, to make his mark on the world and his name in the history books.
Mercy to the Guilty is Torture to the Victims

kitten

I was very nervous about Harper, considering his past political stance, so I voted Liberal.  I knew they didn't have a chance to be re-elected, but I wanted to see enough of an opposition to debate issues instead of having them pushed through by sheer wieght of numbers.  I think that it is Harper's rigidity in his opinions that scares me.  He seems to be very narrow-minded.
Thousands of years ago cats were worshipped.  They have not forgotten.

Lise

They are all bad, kitten. One way or another. I can't decide which politician is worst.....

  We should have more supervised injection sites. Boo to those who think otherwise because I think this site can help solve some of our drug problems.
Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry.
Bill Cosby.