People seem to think a "safe injection site" will help businesses and foot traffic downtown, but where would they go after they get their "safe injection"? Downtown?
They're already doing drugs and walking around high downtown. That doesn't change. Hopefully, over time, as people are actually rehabilitated and able to move on, that is reduced.
There's also already crime associated with drug use. That doesn't change, either. We already have that, and we'll still have it if there's an SCS. It's not a magic bullet.
What an SCS site does is:
- Reduces risk of deaths from OD
- Reduces transmission of disease with safe consumption supplies in a sterile environment
- Reduces the visibility of drug consumption in a small community that is trying to offer those who DO choose rehabilitation a drug-free place to live
- Serves as a potential entry point to rehabilitation services, shelter, and other services via the appropriate referrals
I really don't know much of the issues but it seems that safe consumption sites are designed for the community and not for the drug user. I can't see someone saying, I need my drug now so I think I'll walk down to the safe consumption site". It strikes me that there needs to be a bigger incentive then, "it's the best place to shoot-up". I also don't know the logistics of addiction which doesn't seem to be talked about. How many times a day is a dose necessary? With the existence of a safe site, how often is it anticipated that a would a user make use of it? What is the typical cost of a dose? Yes, a non-judgmental approach is important for dialog and also more information.
SCSs are absolutely intended to benefit drug users. It sounds like you may be confusing these with how the methadone clinic works, which is very different. Methadone clinics offer methadone as replacement therapy to help a client with an opioid dependence discontinue the use of potentially more dangerous and illegal opioids.
(The fact that the Government of Ontario has long allowed these to be privately owned/operated and to sit outside the rest of the healthcare system is a whole other issue.)
Safe Consumption Sites do not provide drugs to users.
What an SCS site does is:
- Reduces risk of deaths from OD
- Reduces transmission of disease with safe consumption supplies in a sterile environment
- Reduces the visibility of drug consumption in a small community that is trying to offer those who DO choose rehabilitation a drug-free place to live
- Serves as a potential entry point to rehabilitation services, shelter, and other services via the appropriate referrals
People seem to think a "safe injection site" will help businesses and foot traffic downtown, but where would they go after they get their "safe injection"? Downtown?
They're already doing drugs and walking around high downtown. That doesn't change. Hopefully, over time, as people are actually rehabilitated and able to move on, that is reduced.
There's also already crime associated with drug use. That doesn't change, either. We already have that, and we'll still have it if there's an SCS. It's not a magic bullet.
What an SCS site does is:
- Reduces risk of deaths from OD
- Reduces transmission of disease with safe consumption supplies in a sterile environment
- Reduces the visibility of drug consumption in a small community that is trying to offer those who DO choose rehabilitation a drug-free place to live
- Serves as a potential entry point to rehabilitation services, shelter, and other services via the appropriate referrals
I really don't know much of the issues but it seems that safe consumption sites are designed for the community and not for the drug user. I can't see someone saying, I need my drug now so I think I'll walk down to the safe consumption site". It strikes me that there needs to be a bigger incentive then, "it's the best place to shoot-up". I also don't know the logistics of addiction which doesn't seem to be talked about. How many times a day is a dose necessary? With the existence of a safe site, how often is it anticipated that a would a user make use of it? What is the typical cost of a dose? Yes, a non-judgmental approach is important for dialog and also more information.
Hi Bob,
SCSs are absolutely intended to benefit drug users. It sounds like you may be confusing these with how the methadone clinic works, which is very different. Methadone clinics offer methadone as replacement therapy to help a client with an opioid dependence discontinue the use of potentially more dangerous and illegal opioids.
(The fact that the Government of Ontario has long allowed these to be privately owned/operated and to sit outside the rest of the healthcare system is a whole other issue.)
Safe Consumption Sites do not provide drugs to users.
What an SCS site does is:
- Reduces risk of deaths from OD
- Reduces transmission of disease with safe consumption supplies in a sterile environment
- Reduces the visibility of drug consumption in a small community that is trying to offer those who DO choose rehabilitation a drug-free place to live
- Serves as a potential entry point to rehabilitation services, shelter, and other services via the appropriate referrals