Pubdate: Wed, 20 Jun 2007
Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Vancouver Courier
Contact:  http://www.vancourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474
Author: Shelly Tomic

RECOVERING ADDICT THANKFUL FOR INSITE

To the editor:

Re: "Injection site temporary-mayor," June 8.

I've been reading most the articles about the safe injection site,
also known as Insite, and have noticed that you don't print too many
letters from the people that use this place.

I am one of the regulars at Insite, and I have to tell you, had it not
been open I wouldn't be the person that I am today. Because of the
caring staff there I am still alive. That probably wouldn't be the
case at the pace I was once fixing.

More importantly than any of that is today I have nine months off the
down (heroin). I feel I have made it this far with the help of a lot
of people. I still go to the safe injection site to talk to the staff
on the days I think about relapsing.

Most people think of Insite as a place for addicts to get high. They
don't seem to know that it is much more than that.

It is a big part of my staying clean.

Have any of the people who wish to close this much-needed help thought
of the way it would impact the lives of those who have to be down here?

I've lived down here for over 20 years, I have seen the way it has
changed for the better. I also believe that should they close Insite
that things will get very bad for everyone in the area.

I don't know if you'll print this as most people think that as an
addict my thoughts and feelings don't matter.

Thank you for your time, and for giving me this chance to try to save
the place that saved my life/soul.

Shelly Tomic,

Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Derek