Injection Site Resolution, passed by Federal NDP, 2006

RESOLUTION ON SUPERVISED INJECTION FACILITIES

 

WHEREAS the recent decision by the Harper government to not renew the legal exemption for the Vancouver Supervised Injection Site, places in jeopardy this vital health service for Canadians marginalized as a result of drug addiction;

 

WHEREAS the Supervised Injection Site, known as InSite, currently runs at capacity with clinical staff supervising an average 700 injections daily, each of which would otherwise take place in alleyways, or other locations with a very high risk of overdose death;

 

WHEREAS other than the more 500 overdose fatalities prevented, InSite has also proven successful at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS, as well as limiting open drug use and public disorder while moving more people into detox and addiction treatment;

 

WHEREAS substantial, independent peer reviewed research chronicling InSite success has been published in the Lancet, the British Medical Journal, and the New England Journal of Medicine;

 

WHEREAS there is no certainty that this life-saving health service will continue beyond the December 31, 2007, deadline imposed last week by the Conservative Government;

 

WHEREAS InSite is supported by the City of Vancouver, the Government of BC, and the Vancouver Chief of Police;

 

WHEREAS no one has ever died at InSite;

 

WHEREAS if InSite closes people will die,

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Canada's NDP challenge the Harper Government to renew the health exemption in Section 56 of Canada's Controlled Substances Act to allow InSite to continue to save lives;

 

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP support the establishment of similar health services in communities where local governments decide to treat drug addition as a health issue, rather than only criminal matter.