Would you want a safe injection site in your community?
This is the debate many cities across Canada are grappling with following the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling that all illegal drug use at safe injection sites is exempt from Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Vancouver is the vanguard of the safe injection movement and has had an “Insite” safe injection centre open since 2003.
This Insite centre is a publicly funded space for drug addicts to get high on illicit drugs, such as cocaine and heroine. It also provides clean equipment necessary for injecting the drugs like syringes, filters and cookers.
One of the main benefits of the site is that there have been no lethal overdoses on location. According to Vancouver Coastal Health statistics, in 2010 alone there were 221 overdoses, but no fatalities.
Despite this obvious benefit, many are opposed to the idea of safe injection sites. In 2006 the Canadian Police Association unanimously voted down the idea. As well, former Ottawa Police Chief Vern White and Mayor Jim Watson have vocally opposed opening an Insite centre in the city.
If Insite does save lives, why is it the wrong option for Ottawa?
Having an Insite centre in Ottawa would be detrimental to whichever community it is placed in.
The selected area would become a hotbed for addicts and for crimes often associated with drug addiction. The centre does not provide drugs, therefore addicts would still need to illegally purchase the drugs. This would concentrate crime.
Ottawa has worked hard to clean up communities such as Vanier. Why would any community want a centre like Insite to bring down property values and deter visitors from the area?
Also, taxpayer dollars should not be spent to facilitate people’s drug use. Addiction is a serious illness and money should not be spent to feed it.
Per year, the operating budget for Vancouver’s Insite is about $3 million.
That money could be going towards drug education, prevention and treatment.
Yes, it may seem harsh to put property values and tax dollars above human life. However, that doesn’t mean that Ottawa should do nothing to help addicts. There are other options besides a permanent safe injection site.
Ottawa can develop mobile sites for safe injection. These mobile units are already in place for needle exchange programs in the city. As well, Montreal’s public health department has recommended a mobile safe injection unit for its city.
The mobile units can make stops at locations around Ottawa so that people can use drugs safely. The units can follow a schedule and have a phone number to be reached at. They should also continue to serve as a needle exchange program.
These mobile units would be less expensive than a permanent site and would not concentrate the problems associated with drug use. They could also provide information packages about where to get help.
Mobile units are not the ideal remedy and would not be able to serve as many people as a permanent site would. However, there is no perfect solution. Drug use is going on and cannot be ignored.
The mobile unit is a good compromise between a permanent site and no site at all. It can help addicts while still protecting neighbourhoods and using health care money responsibly.