Monday, Sep 15, 2003
VANCOUVER (CP) - While some of its potential clients huddled nearby, North America's first authorized drug-injection site had its long-awaited official opening Monday.The so-called safe-injection site won't be open to addicts for a week or so, but its political backers greeted the move with whoops and cheers.
But there were also emotional memories of addicts killed by overdoses and disease caused by drug use.
"The first thing that went through my head is the huge number of people that have died and the number that I saw and had to deal with their families," said Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell.
As city coroner, Campbell was often called to the poverty-stricken Downtown Eastside, where a vacant building was renovated to house the new safe-injection site.
The controversial government-funded project, which will give users injection kits and allow them to shoot up inside under nurse supervision, won't end addiction, said Campbell, but he predicted it will soon make a visible difference.
"Most importantly, we won't have to take people out of these hotels time and time again," said Campbell, referring to the run-down buildings that dot the crumbling neighbourhood.
Thirty-seven people have died already from overdoses in Vancouver this year, he said.
Drug users sometimes will use dirty needles and water from puddles to shoot up. Now, addicts wanting to use the new facility will be ushered into a brightly-lit room lined on one side by open, mirrored booths where they can inject drugs.
After finishing, they will be taken to a "chill out room," where they can receive counselling and peer referrals.
On Monday morning, knots of raggedly dressed people huddled at a street corner just metres from the new site.
One long-time drug user said he hoped the pilot project would make a difference in his neighbourhood.
Steven Bannon, 43, said he knows too many people who have died from diseases acquired through drug use.
"A person who chooses to use the injection site, the main thing, I think, is less risk of HIV," said the soft-spoken man.
Melody Kitchener, 41, said she would be comfortable using the injection site.
"I've used on the street, but I don't like to," said Kitchener, who has been using drugs for 28 years. "You know what they say, it's not a good idea to use alone."
Not everyone was celebrating the site's opening Monday.
The pilot project represents the wrong approach to combating addiction, said Canadian Alliance MP Randy White.
"The priority to get people off drugs, not keep people on drugs," said White. "Every cent we spend away from that objective is money wasted."
Health Canada has committed $1.5 million to pay for research during the pilot project and the B.C. government will also give $2 million to help cover costs.
Another $1.2 million from British Columbia went toward renovation costs.
But that money is just going toward creating a legal zone for drugs, said White.
"If somebody suggests this will get people off drugs or prevent HIV, that is not the case," he said.
Concerns have also been raised about whether a police presence in the area will scare off potential users.
On Monday morning, two officers stood across the street from the injection site.
Officers would be working in the general area and want to facilitate addicts being able to use the injection site, said city police Chief Jamie Graham.
But the street in front of the injection site will not be a "bubble zone" for drug dealers, he said.
"It is not the police intention to intervene or interfere with anyone entering the site unless there is a lawful reason to do so," said Graham.
"The site will not be a sanctuary for anyone (who is the) subject of an arrest warrant or someone who is or was engaged in criminal activity.
"Routine visits by other police officers to the site are not envisioned at this time as we accept that a reasonable degree of comfort must be developed."
Standing with other drug-users outside the site, Bannon said he didn't think a police presence would drive off many people.
"Some might see it that way," he said. "I don't see it that way."
© The Canadian Press, 2003
posted September 16, 2003 03:41
posted September 16, 2003 07:07
posted September 16, 2003 09:49
