What should be done about the millions of people in the United States and around the world who inject heroin and other drugs? For 30-plus years, the U.S. has waged a "war on drugs" that is, more accurately, a war on drug users. This war on drugs has not delivered on its promise to keep drugs off our streets or to prevent people from using, but it has successfully filled our prisons beyond capacity and led to far too many cases of HIV/AIDS related to sharing contaminated needles.
Vancouver adopted a different approach to deal with the city's problems associated with injection drug use. In 2003, the city established a supervised injection facility (SIF) where users can take their drugs in a sterile environment, and in the presence of clinical staff. The rationale is that as much as we don't want people injecting drugs, some -- often society's most marginalized -- inevitably will.
There are three main areas where injection drug use occurs outside of the home: 1) public places like parks and street corners; 2) "shooting galleries" that are often dirty, violent and conducive to the sharing of dirty needles; and 3) a safe, clean facility under the supervision of nurses and public health officials. In addition to making sure people are using clean needles and are not overdosing, health professionals can use the opportunity to provide treatment options designed to curb and eventually eliminate the use of drugs.
So what are the results of Vancouver's strategy? A study released in 2007 in the esteemed British peer-reviewed, scientific journal Addiction, found that not only is the Vancouver injection site accomplishing the goals of reducing public drug use, cutting down on the spread of HIV/AIDS and overdose deaths, but is also a bridge to help people get into treatment. The study found that the city's supervised injection facility increased the rate of injection drug users entering detox by 30 percent. The study confirmed that all of these concrete benefits are happening without increased drug use. Similar findings were reported in studies of safer injection rooms in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Australia.
And now the idea of supervised injection facilities are being discussed in cities like New York and San Francisco. Today in New York, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Injection Drug Users Health Alliance (IDUHA) convened a one day conference on the topic. The conference provided attendees with information on the effectiveness of SIFs, especially their impact on public health and safety. International experiences with SIFs, including a major review of Vancouver's success, were reviewed. The conference also started initial plans for the development of a SIF in New York.
While there needs to be significant research and planning, there also needs to be movement and action. There is an overdose epidemic in New York and around the country. Last year an estimated 22,000 Americans died from overdoses, second only to motor vehicle accidents when it comes to accidental deaths. More people died of accidental overdoses in New York last year than from murder. It is in this context that we need to move to establish SIFs in New York. This will save lives.
While some may hope and pray for a "drug free society," the reality is that there will always be some who will find their way to drugs. We need to do everything we can to make treatment available to heroin users and everyone trying to quit drugs. But we should also study what Vancouver and other countries are exploring. We need to find ways to reduce the death, disease, crime and suffering of people who are unwilling or unable to stop.
Tony Newman is the director of media relations at the Drug Policy Alliance
THe infamous words of Chris Rock "There's no money in the cure!!!"
All you have to do is follow the drug trail $$ to figure out why nothing is ever really done.
There is about 1.3% of the population that uses heroin. And look at the huge amount of money spent trying to stop them. If people want to shoot heroin, at least let them do it in such a way that no one else is endangered. Your cocktails, would they be more fun taken in a gas station bathroom, or a cocktail lounge? Heroin is actually less damaging to mind and internal organs than alcohol.
Yet, we have a Conservative Federal government that continues to attempt to close it down. And right wing , so-called "think tank" , the Fraser Institute puts out "reports"(opinions) saying its a failure, with no facts to back it up.
We dont even have a real right wing Conservative party in BC, as our Liberal Party is already so far to the right, nobody needs to vote for cons.
BC, its SUPERNATURAL!!
BTW, anybody visiting Vancouver in 2010 for the Olympics, be aware of the Metro Vancouver Police and the RCMP, both of which have several officers under investigation for murder, spousal abuse, assult, theft, improper use of TAZER causing death, and today, a Metro cop shoot her own cop car and the bullet went into an appartment building.
Vancouver, ya got to love it!
But first they have to get them in the door gain their trust, sort of like reverse dealers giving out freebies.
My heart goes out to these people. Most addicts are self-medicating for serious psychological problems. This type of solution is a much more effective tool in fighting the drug problem than our current system of incarceration.
It's a common perception that just getting an addict into rehab is the solution. They must be mentally able and willingly. Addiction usually has a cycle and until that cycle is complete, users will simply relapse. It's not the same for all addicts so trying rehab is worth a shot but we shouldn't be surprised if many addicts relapse. The issue is extremely complex and each case is different. Simple blanket solutions have never worked and never will.
The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Sydney, Australia is very successful but receives a lot of criticism from the usual suspects - moral crusaders, politicians, the religious right, the ignorant etc. But the statistics speak for themselves and it achieves it's main goals of saving lives and reducing harm.
A Safe Injection Facility in NY will not help all addicts but it's another option and that's what we need ... more options.
I hope you are sarcastic. Why should anyone in their right mind care about the Prison Industrial Komplex or big pharma? The latter would actually benefit from legal injection places, as they certainly would get their supplies from "big pharma" and not from the dealer at the corner of "Walk" and "Don't Walk".
As far as "dick" is concerned, he should be "IN" the Prison Industrial Komplex rather than profiteering frrom it.
The war on drugs as it is currently conducted was, is and will continue to be a collossal failure. Prohibition is not woking and to continue this waste of money and human beings has to end.