- Target:
- Canadian Federal Government
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- supervisedinjection.vch.ca
On May 12, 2011 the case regarding InSite, Canada's first and only supervised injection site, will be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. InSite is under the threat of being shut down because the Harper government has chosen to remove harm reduction from its national drug strategy. However, we are asking that this be reconsidered. The outcome of this decision will affect other jurisdictional attempts to implement more safe injection sites on a national level.
What is InSite?
InSite is a supervised injection site, located in Vancouver’s downtown Eastside, where drug users are provided with a safe environment in which they can inject their own drugs under the supervision of health care professionals. Users are provided with an opportunity to access primary care to treat disease and infection, as well as addiction counseling and treatment.
Why is it beneficial?
- Because of the presence of health care professionals, there have been no fatalities at the clinic despite 2395 overdoses.
- A study done in 2006 shows that InSite users are 70% less likely to share needles than non-InSite users.
- InSite users are 33% more likely to seek detoxification and addiction treatment.
- A 2008 economic analysis showed that during InSite's operation, there have been incremental net savings of $18 million health care dollars.
- InSite has contributed to lowered HIV rates, a decrease in crime rates, and an increase in overall community stability.
We, the undersigned, call on the Canadian Federal Government to drop the case against InSite, which will appear before the Supreme Court of Canada on May 12, 2011, and allow for their supervised injection site to remain open.
InSite provides drug users in downtown Eastside Vancouver with a safe environment in which they can inject their own drugs under the supervision of health care professionals. Not only does this clinic contribute to public health safety and the well-being of its users, it also saves millions of health care dollars.
The drug using population of downtown Eastside Vancouver must not be denied access to the services of this clinic.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Say YES to InSite, a Supervised Injection Site petition to Canadian Federal Government was written by Jennifer Snoxell and is in the category Health at GoPetition.