Vancouver's supervised injection site does not have the full support of the RCMP, one of the agencies advising the federal government on the future of the clinic.

The Conservative government has not yet announced whether it will extend the mandate of the site, which first opened its doors in the Downtown Eastside in September 2003.

Vancouver's three-year-old safe-injection site faces an uncertain future.
(CBC)

The clinic's three-year Health Canada exemption to Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act expires on Sept. 12.

The RCMP have not stated their position unequivocally. However, Staff-Sgt. John Ward, who speaks for the force in B.C., makes it clear that the safe-injection site does not meet its criteria.

"We only support an injection site that would have as its approach the four pillars strategy, and that of course is harm reduction, education, prevention and enforcement. Does this particular program have those four pillars? It doesn't at this point."

Ward also says the RCMP don't necessarily endorse all the findings of a recent study it commissioned with two B.C. criminologists.

Their report noted some of the injection site's positive health effects, and recommended that it should remain open.

No overdose deaths at clinic

The safe-injection site was established in Vancouver following a intensive campaign for a safe, clean place for the estimated 5,000 injection drug users in the city's Downtown Eastside.

Statistics compiled by the clinic over a two-year period ending March 31 show there was an average of 607 visits a day to the clinic, and that 453 addicts overdosed at the clinic — but with no deaths because of the trained staff.
 
There were also 4,083 counselling referrals during the two-year period, including about 1,600 referrals to addiction counselling.