Federal Health Minister gets dose of Insite

Mon, 2008-06-09 11:14

jrose

[url=http://www.rabble.ca/in_her_own_words.shtml?sh_itm=ec706625b1cce14c3cffb... Health Minister gets dose of Insite[/url]

quote:

The federal Minister of Health is having a rough time these days.
No matter where Tony Clement turns, or what he reads, Insite is there. It's been a top news story all over the country, and new Insite supporters are announcing themselves every day. Last week, there was even a vigil and gig in support of Insite on Parliament Hill.
Imagine 1000 wooden crosses placed neatly in lines, from the peace flame to the steps leading to the peace tower. Imagine the sound of the anthem Amazing Grace drifting over the grounds, and large banners mounted on the steps with photographs of so-called "junkies" as kids - a reminder to the government that it's real people whose lives we debate and decide.
Across the street, in front of the Prime Minister's office, huge banners declaring "Insite Saves Lives" are hung against the wrought iron fence and held up by demonstrators as cars crept by during rush hour, many honking their horns in support.
Picture all of that and you get the idea of the creativity, and powerful display of advocacy, delivered by the group Friends of Insite as they swept Parliament Hill June 5, sending a strong message to the Conservative Government that they are so wrong on their decisions about Insite.

Mon, 2008-06-09 11:33

#3

Sineed

This part needs emphasis:

quote:

The evidence on this is clear. While at least 900 overdoses have occurred at Insite since it began operation, the availability of professional medical care at the facility has meant that not a single person has died from an overdose there. Research from Australia indicates that at least 30-45 deaths would have resulted from the same number of overdoses in the general community. Moreover, research shows Insite has reduced needle sharing and provided and entry point into treatment programs for many users. Studies by criminologists found that Insite did not contribute to increase drug use or public disorder, and that it reduced public injections and drug related litter in the area.

So even though Insite reduces needle use, thereby reducing the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C, AND saves the lives of would-be overdosing users, AND gets people into treatment, the Tories say there is insufficient evidence that it works.

quote:

After three years of evaluation, we published 22 studies that described the impacts of Insite. These studies appeared in various peer-reviewed medical journals...and showed that Insite was doing exactly what it was set up to do. This fairly small and simple public-health program was contributing to reductions in the number of people injecting in public and the number of discarded syringes on city streets. Insite was also helping to reduce HIV-risk behaviour and likely saving lives that might otherwise have been lost to fatal overdose. We also found a 30-percent increase in the use of detoxification programs among Insite users in the year after the site opened. Potential harms were ruled out as research showed that the opening of Insite did not increase crime or lead more vulnerable citizens to take up injection-drug use.

Harper's response?

quote:

Harper stated publicly that he would look to the RCMP for their evaluation of Insite.

So if you don't agree with the scientists, better call the cops.

[url=http://www.straight.com/article-141083/harper-government-has-no-love-sci... Harper's government has no love of science.[/url]

Mon, 2008-06-09 19:21

#4

Dana Larsen

Yay for Libby Davies!

The Conservatives intransigence on this issue could mean that possession and trafficking in all drugs will become legal in Canada in May 2009.

The judge in the InSite case ruled that the possession and trafficking laws in Canada are unconstitutional, because they do not allow for harm-reduction tactics like InSite.

If the Conservatives don't defeat this decision in a higher court, then they must rewrite the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act by May 2009, or all possession and trafficking laws are struck down.

I doubt the Cons will expend much time or energy in trying to comply with the court decision. Instead they will focus on resisting and fighting it.

Mon, 2008-06-09 19:55

#5

martin dufresne

quote:

...trafficking in all drugs will become legal in Canada in May 2009

Do you think this would be a step forward?

Mon, 2008-06-09 20:15

#6

Dana Larsen

quote:

Do you think this would be a step forward?

I think that our current policy of criminal prohibition is quite likely the worst policy possible.

But I would rather see the government create a sensible set of regulations and controls for legal access to safe dosages of most currently banned drugs, instead of there be no regulations or controls at all.

Mon, 2008-06-16 01:55

#7

CanadianNurse

I second the Cheers for Libby! She is one of the hardest-working MP's in Canada & actually takes action on real things that matter - instead of avoiding the people and our issues, like most of them.
What I really really would like to see is for Tony Clements, and Stephen Harper to spend 24 hours in person at In-Site and on Vancouver's East Side, working with the people there, getting down and dirty, & seeing what real life there is like. They would find out that the addicts, the homeless, and the street people there are amazing human beings who are dealing with huge amounts of pain. If they are going to rule on these folks' lives, they need to go & experience their environment and culture for at least a day.

Tue, 2010-02-09 17:17

#8

Unionist

Much has happened since this thread was last active. [url=http://www.rabble.ca/news/2010/01/bc-court-appeal-gives-harper-conservat... levels of court in B.C.[/url] have struck down Harper/Clements. Now, as predicted in that rabble story, [url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/09/bc-supreme-co... Cons are going to the Supreme Court[/url] to uphold federal over provincial rights in this health matter!

This is becoming a habit for a "minority" government which rules like an executive dictatorship and cannot tolerate either the legislative or judicial branches getting in its way.

Those who think Harper wants or needs a majority have not been paying attention.

Tue, 2010-02-09 21:37

#9

G. Muffin

Unionist wrote:
Those who think Harper wants or needs a majority have not been paying attention.

Unionist, as you know, I have trouble paying attention.

HOWEVER, I would like to share with babble my insight into Insite:

Happiness is being addicted to a free and legal drug.

Tue, 2010-02-09 22:05

#10

remind

Yes, I heard on the news this evening that they are going to take it to the SCC.

Prorogue and then do what you want, without having to speak to the press....and yet some want to vilify the NDP, as being the evil of all evils.

Let's just keep on having successive Con and Liberal governments until there is nothing left of Canada....but then perhaps that is what some want!

Tue, 2010-02-09 23:02

#11

Unionist

What thread are we in now? Did our software geeks shuffle the posts? It's hard enough keeping track.

Wed, 2010-02-10 04:08

#12

G. Muffin

Lone Wolf Bunn on another matter: http://www.helendagner.com/viewtopic.php?t=7275

Wed, 2010-02-10 22:34

#13

Unionist

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/10/bc-harper-van... force Harper to delay appearance[/url]

Quote:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper had to postpone a visit to a Vancouver Chinese community centre Wednesday because protesters had surrounded the building and sealed its doors.

Harper was scheduled to make an afternoon visit to the centre to see a rehearsal for Chinese new year festivities next week.

More than 100 protesters surrounded the building and sealed the doors shut with duct tape, preventing Harper from entering.

Wed, 2010-02-10 22:57

#14

remind