Drug Addiction To Be Managed By Supervised-Injection Sites In British Columbia

The Ministry of Health, British Columbia announced the establishment of two supervised-Injection sites in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. These sites were opened on Dec. 8, 2016.

It was also said that two more facilities will be opened in Surrey and Victoria later this week. This trend will be continued, and many more similar sites will be established in three more jurisdictions of British Columbia, by the end of the month, reported CTV News.

The surprise announcement was made following a policy shift related to the monitoring of these supervised-injection sites. Earlier rules required obtaining exemptions from the federal drug laws, which is a very complicated and lengthy process. The two sites set up on Dec. 8, 2016 did not obtain any exemptions from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This marked a major policy shift of the ministry, reported Straight.

Terry Lake, Health Minister, British Columbia, said that the decision was taken in the wake of the increasing liabilities of fentanyl crisis and recent increase in the number of drug overdose deaths. Lake said, "We can't wait for federal changes in order to save people's lives."

Terry Lake also mentioned that the ministry had already informed Health Canada and Ministry of Public Safety in this regard, before taking the decision of setting up these supervised-injection sites. He added, "We know people are using in alleys, they are using in their rooms, and they are not where the people who can help them are. And so in the face of this crisis, we really just wanted to do more."

Lake also commented that, "Under the Emergency Health Services Act, I can make this kind of order in the face of a public-health emergency."

Lake's statement was further supported by Jane Philpott, Health Minister, Health Canada, in her statement. "The previous legislation, as you know, has widely been perceived to introduce unreasonable barriers, and I share the concerns that have been expressed," Philpott said.

Jane Philpott is a strong proponent and advocate of supervised-injection sites. In her statement, she said, "I know that they work. They save lives. They prevent infection. They provide safe access to health care."

These supervised-injection sites provide a platform for health professional to extend medical help to drug addicts when they need it the most. Health officials speculate that these sites will help in reducing overdose death in drug addicts and preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS.