Safe Injection Sites approved for edm, Cgy announcement tba

[killer_carlson]

4 safe drug use sites announced for Edmonton as approved by Health Canada. News report says Calgary announcement to occur with 30 days.

As someone who until recently lived downtown and witnessed needles in streets, parking areas, backyards and near playgrounds, Mark me down as a supporter. If this keeps more needles off the streets, backyards, playgrounds then it is a success.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loca...sumption-sites

[killer_carlson]

Lethbridge gets a site as well. The official release is below.

https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?x...9863F554B6D3AD

[KTrain]

These are essential for helping aid in successful recovery as well as improving the safety of the community.

That they're using pre-existing locations/agencies to house the sites is good at curbing the NIMBY aspect of these projects too.

[killer_carlson]

True, but it also centralizes the services which will only reinforce NIMBY attitudes in the 'burbs.

Because no one has EVER overdosed in the 'burbs ....

[DiracSpike]

I generally dislike NIMBYism too but I really can't fault people for not wanting a safe injection site to spring up in their neighborhoords

[burn_this_city]

There's already one here, it's just not reported, just off 17th SW.

[killer_carlson]

Safe injection sites are (obviously) very polarizing, but what I've encountered is that centralizing of services will be used as a reason for people objecting to things like affordable housing or addictions counselling, which is something many communities need.

[Caged Great]

I am glad they are doing this. Perhaps treating people like people instead of like trash might help towards fixing the problems they are going through instead of sweeping them to the margins of society.

[Ozy_Flame]

Very happy to see this here in Edmonton, there is a humane aspect to all of this that is directly towards safety of individuals - and when I say safety, I mean users and the general public.

[corporatejay]

Yeah, I don't want one near my house but they are a necessary evil. A pragmatic approach to drug addiction (as opposed to putting people in prison which doesn't work).

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

True, but it also centralizes the services which will only reinforce NIMBY attitudes in the 'burbs.

Because no one has EVER overdosed in the 'burbs ....

You're not wrong.

Sometimes the path of least resistance is the best way to get these things done though. I'd rather it get done now than have it delayed with protests from concerned neighbours.

There's also an argument to be made about the people using the safe injection sites being able to access the other services of the agency, reduced costs of running the site and added safety of a knowledgable staff and community around the pre-exsisting agency.

[Corral]

Great. I hope folks who support this move but who also support Jason Kenney's bid for UCP leadership don't forget he was a key cog in the Conservative wheelhouse which tried to put an end to the safe injection site in downtown east van - and spent lots of public funds in the litigation - which they ultimately lost.

[Stormageddon]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

There's already one here, it's just not reported, just off 17th SW.

[jar_e]

Wasn't this announced in June?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...andy-1.4160116

Officials have unveiled plans for the first supervised drug use site in Calgary, to be located at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in the city's core.

The province is applying for permission from Health Canada to open the site and will immediately begin a consultation process with the surrounding community while that process is underway, said Associate Minister of Health Brandy Payne, who made the announcement along with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and police Chief Roger Chaffin at the centre.

edit: I guess its regarding the approval...but it was already agreed upon to be at the Sheldon Chumir for people looking for more information.

[Huntingwhale]

Good, about time. Anyone opposed to this needs to remember; one way or another these addicts are going to inject somewhere, somehow. Would you rather it be in playgrounds and parks where kids play? Or in a secure location under supervision and medical attendants nearby?

Of course no one wants it near their home. But sometimes the betterment of society is much more important than inconveniencing a select few. This is one of those times.

[Peanut]

Yeah my understanding is the first calgary site is going to be at the Chumir.

[Russic]

Also important to note that the injection sites also exist as a place for the addicts to find help should they want to take a step towards becoming clean. Addiction carries a cost for society that can last generations, so anybody standing in front of proven methods like this is fiscally brain-dead.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Russic

Also important to note that the injection sites also exist as a place for the addicts to find help should they want to take a step towards becoming clean. Addiction carries a cost for society that can last generations, so anybody standing in front of proven methods like this is fiscally brain-dead.

That's just it.

Addicts exist more than amongst the homeless.

The literature suggests 70% of overdoses happen outside of downtown. There needs to be addiction treatment facilities, resources, etc located outside of downtown.

The attitude of locating the injection sites down among the homeless because that can get other help, because we keep all the resources in one place only:

A) ignores the factsj and
B) empowers the NIMBYs

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Russic

Also important to note that the injection sites also exist as a place for the addicts to find help should they want to take a step towards becoming clean. Addiction carries a cost for society that can last generations, so anybody standing in front of proven methods like this is fiscally brain-dead.

Cannot stress this enough. This is something that can literally derail entire families, their kids, grandkids and so on.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Russic

Also important to note that the injection sites also exist as a place for the addicts to find help should they want to take a step towards becoming clean. Addiction carries a cost for society that can last generations, so anybody standing in front of proven methods like this is fiscally brain-dead.

I would hope this a mandatory, "strings attached" corollary to anyone using these facilities, no? I get that it's a hard addiction to break but you're not doing anyone any favors by letting them shoot up dope in perpetuity.