Insite – Supervised Injection Site

End drug prohibition--it's an abject failure, always will be. Humakind has always used mind altering substance, for a variety of good/healthy (and some not-sto healthy) reasons. It should be our choice, period. The vast majority use responsibly (whether it's the arbitrarily 'legal' drugs like alcohol, Rx narcotics, etc. or the 'illicit' ones, ... Read Moremany of which are far less lethal/harmful than the 'legal' ones--see tobacco deaths for example), the few who meet the diagnostic criteria for addiction or alchoholism, will not stop b/c of criminal laws, our best dollars spent are with treatment, prevention, harm reduction-public health approaches that are evidence supported vs. locking people up. heroin maintenance works, period. Who are you/we to judge?
Had a drink lately? Far more toxic to your body than clean pharmaceutical opiates...

As a type 2 diabetic, I resent being referred to as an addict, or told that it's all my fault. It is a genetic flaw that is exacerbated by overeating and lack of exercise. There are many obese couch potatoes who are not diabetic. My sib is one of them. She is also a heavy smoker and uses the same argument that her having a cigarette is the same as me eating a doughnut, therefore we are both addicts. A more realistic treatise would compare drug addiction to tobacco smoking, or chewing gum if you want to get really silly.

I know plenty of "thin" type 2 diabetics as well.

Kasandra... Read More
bathqueen0@yahoo.ca

I would also like to add that I am a very strong supporter of InSite.

Terry, Vancouver took a cue from safe injection sites in Europe. Our's has already proven to increase public health for both Vancouver's drug addicted and non drug addicted residents. To put it in perspective, imagine a loved one is addicted to IV drugs then ask yourself where you would rather have him or her shoot up? In a back alley using a needle with old blood in it or sitting next to a nurse in a sterilized environment with clean equipment?

Actually there are successful programs which do provide alcohol to alcoholics, as a means of harm reduction.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Business/Homeless+alcoholics+just+quit/1403838/story.html

Every day, in the shadow of Parliament Hill, 30 homeless alcoholics are fed, housed and served drinks, each hour on the hour, between early morning and evening.... Read More

That this "managed alcohol" program run by Ottawa's Inner City Health Inc. in the ByWard Market, is effective, is beyond dispute. For one thing, it has saved the local health-care system in the neighbourhood of $3.5 million by reducing or eliminating its clients' frequent visits to hospital emergency rooms. For another, it has dramatically improved the quality of life for a group of people many would view as beyond hope.