Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jul 2013
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2013 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n355/a06.html

CLEAN NEEDLES HELP MORE THAN JUNKIES

Re: You Can't Get Clean If You're Dead, Chris Selley, July 23

Drug users are not the only beneficiaries of harm reduction 
interventions like Vancouver's Downtown Eastside safe injection 
program. Look no further than Canada's southern neighbour for tragic 
examples of drug policies that are best avoided. Researchers at the 
U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimate that 57% of AIDS cases 
among women and 36% of overall AIDS cases in the United States are 
linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who inject drugs. 
This preventable public health crisis is a direct result of misguided 
zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes. Can 
Canada afford to emulate the harm maximization approach of the former 
land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated?

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom