Addiction Center in Vancouver

[Galvin's Shinpads]

Only center of it's kind in North America...

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/11/world/americas/wus-canada-drug-safe-haven/index.html

 

[CanadianSpur]

The Insite Centre is extremely controversial here in Vancouver and has been endlessly debated at all levels of government. The safe injection site was implemented on atrial basis and the jury is still out on this.

And people wonder why the people of Vancouver are considered left-wing, drug using, pot smoking hippies!

 

[spurdon]

Or it's a clever far sighted move by authorities who care about people more than pandering to a moral agenda?

 

[Departed]

They tried something like this in Liverpool about 20 years ago and the crime rate plummeted...I remember seeing a documentary on it. Can't remember anything else about it though. Do y'all have them?

 

[CanadianSpur]

spurdon - 11/4/2013 09:41

Or it's a clever far sighted move by authorities who care about people more than pandering to a moral agenda?

It might be a clever move if they did nore to treat the problem of the addiction rather than just give them a safe place to shoot up. This approach only addresses the secondary problem of diease/infection from dirty needles or death from overdose. It does nothing to help the addict with the primary problem of their addiction.

 

[Galvin's Shinpads]

CanadianSpur - 11/4/2013 19:06

spurdon - 11/4/2013 09:41

Or it's a clever far sighted move by authorities who care about people more than pandering to a moral agenda?

It might be a clever move if they did nore to treat the problem of the addiction rather than just give them a safe place to shoot up. This approach only addresses the secondary problem of diease/infection from dirty needles or death from overdose. It does nothing to help the addict with the primary problem of their addiction.

It's a start!

 

[ST2]

CanadianSpur - 11/4/2013 19:06

spurdon - 11/4/2013 09:41

Or it's a clever far sighted move by authorities who care about people more than pandering to a moral agenda?

It might be a clever move if they did nore to treat the problem of the addiction rather than just give them a safe place to shoot up. This approach only addresses the secondary problem of diease/infection from dirty needles or death from overdose. It does nothing to help the addict with the primary problem of their addiction.

that is a much bigger problem, people have wanted to 'get out of it' since time began and that will never change. As 80 mentioned when grown up sensible approaches are tried crime rates plummet and more importantly the entire illegal nature is removed so no gangs making money, no ODing, no muggings or house breaking, no HIV from shared needles ..................

Every single time a government organises a review they always recommend decriminalisation and 'de demonisation' and that Government always drops the report like a hot potato in the face of Daily Mail style uproar

so short sighted.

Who else recall the classic episode of the Wire when they allowed dealing and using in one deserted area called New Amsterdam? It worked brilliantly ....... for about 2 days until the City politicians got wind

 

[Galvin's Shinpads]

ST2 - 11/4/2013 19:32

CanadianSpur - 11/4/2013 19:06

spurdon - 11/4/2013 09:41

Or it's a clever far sighted move by authorities who care about people more than pandering to a moral agenda?

It might be a clever move if they did nore to treat the problem of the addiction rather than just give them a safe place to shoot up. This approach only addresses the secondary problem of diease/infection from dirty needles or death from overdose. It does nothing to help the addict with the primary problem of their addiction.

that is a much bigger problem, people have wanted to 'get out of it' since time began and that will never change. As 80 mentioned when grown up sensible approaches are tried crime rates plummet and more importantly the entire illegal nature is removed so no gangs making money, no ODing, no muggings or house breaking, no HIV from shared needles ..................

Every single time a government organises a review they always recommend decriminalisation and 'de demonisation' and that Government always drops the report like a hot potato in the face of Daily Mail style uproar

so short sighted.

Who else recall the classic episode of the Wire when they allowed dealing and using in one deserted area called New Amsterdam? It worked brilliantly ....... for about 2 days until the City politicians got wind

you would've sworn that was based on Christiania in Copenhagen

 

[CanadianSpur]

ST2 - 11/4/2013 11:32

CanadianSpur - 11/4/2013 19:06

spurdon - 11/4/2013 09:41

Or it's a clever far sighted move by authorities who care about people more than pandering to a moral agenda?

It might be a clever move if they did nore to treat the problem of the addiction rather than just give them a safe place to shoot up. This approach only addresses the secondary problem of diease/infection from dirty needles or death from overdose. It does nothing to help the addict with the primary problem of their addiction.

that is a much bigger problem, people have wanted to 'get out of it' since time began and that will never change. As 80 mentioned when grown up sensible approaches are tried crime rates plummet and more importantly the entire illegal nature is removed so no gangs making money, no ODing, no muggings or house breaking, no HIV from shared needles ..................

Every single time a government organises a review they always recommend decriminalisation and 'de demonisation' and that Government always drops the report like a hot potato in the face of Daily Mail style uproar

so short sighted.

Who else recall the classic episode of the Wire when they allowed dealing and using in one deserted area called New Amsterdam? It worked brilliantly ....... for about 2 days until the City politicians got wind

Unfortunately this facility does not eliminate the criminal element. The drugs are not supplied at the site so the criminal element (Usually organized gangs) still controls the sale and distribution. The need for the addicts to obtain cash to to buy the drugs from the gangs still exists and since the majority(if not all) of the people using Insite are homless and/or unemployed they resort to the muggings and break and enters to fund their addiction.

Vancouver hasn't decriminalized anything. They have only provided a safe haven to engage in the addiction.

It was stated above that this is a start and it is, but it is such a pitifully small first step that really accomplishes very little.

 

[Departed]

ST2 - 11/4/2013 19:32

CanadianSpur - 11/4/2013 19:06

spurdon - 11/4/2013 09:41

Or it's a clever far sighted move by authorities who care about people more than pandering to a moral agenda?

It might be a clever move if they did nore to treat the problem of the addiction rather than just give them a safe place to shoot up. This approach only addresses the secondary problem of diease/infection from dirty needles or death from overdose. It does nothing to help the addict with the primary problem of their addiction.

that is a much bigger problem, people have wanted to 'get out of it' since time began and that will never change. As 80 mentioned when grown up sensible approaches are tried crime rates plummet and more importantly the entire illegal nature is removed so no gangs making money, no ODing, no muggings or house breaking, no HIV from shared needles ..................

Every single time a government organises a review they always recommend decriminalisation and 'de demonisation' and that Government always drops the report like a hot potato in the face of Daily Mail style uproar

so short sighted.

Who else recall the classic episode of the Wire when they allowed dealing and using in one deserted area called New Amsterdam? It worked brilliantly ....... for about 2 days until the City politicians got wind

It is unbelievable how easy it would be to solve this problem by facilitating a safe enviroment and supplying the drugs. It is counterintuitive to a lot of "Law and Order" thinking. The same kind of thinking that backs the NRA.

 

[spurdon]

Hamsterdam baby

 

[Welshtel]

Very Interesting article GALV, THANKS for sharing that! I had not thought of the possibility of such a place existing. I would expect, along with it, would go help for those who want to give it up, advice on what to do, maybe as an afterthought, an information centre for the Police to accrue data about drug suppliers maybe (anonymously, voluntarily offered and confidentially, of course).

It certainly seems to make sense that people who can die from overdoses, infections etc, can be protected and get help. It's good thinking. WELL DONE THE CANADIANS!