Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2016
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2016 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n173/a08.html
Author: Doris Grinspun
Page: A9

ON SUPERVISED INJECTION SITES

Re: Toronto Needs Supervised Injection Sites, March 17.

No one would be addicted to drugs in a perfect world.

I'm sure Toronto's medical officer of health David McKeown would have 
preferred to announce this week that the city had eliminated all drug 
abuse. But in an imperfect world and an imperfect city - where 206 
people died from drug overdoses in 2013 - moving to provide 
supervised injection services is a bold and evidence-based step 
toward building a healthier community.

Such sites have reduced overdose deaths and limited the spread of 
infectious disease in more than 90 places around the world.

The evidence is clear, and that's why Ontario's registered nurses, 
nurse practitioners, and nursing students fought to keep Insite in 
Vancouver open when then Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to shut it down.

It's why we're 100 per cent behind the three outstanding Toronto 
health organizations seeking to add SIS to their existing harm 
reduction services.

I urge Torontonians to inform themselves, read the evidence about 
harm reduction and support this life-saving initiative. Moving ahead 
will make us all be better, as people and as communities.

Doris Grinspun, registered nurse and CEO of the Registered Nurses' 
Association of Ontario, Toronto
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom