Should drug injection sites be legal in Canada?

Clinic provides heroin and cocaine addicts medical supervision as they inject themselves. (Jae C. Hong/CP Images)

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Vancouver's Insite clinic, a controversial supervised injection site for intravenous drug users, can stay open. The court ruled that B.C. has jurisdiction over the site.

Two B.C. courts ruled in 2008 and 2010 that the province can implement health programs for the benefit of its citizens and that the clinic should be exempt from federal drug laws.

However, Health Canada, which granted the injection site an exemption under the government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien, says the government should not be in the business of facilitating illegal drug use. It wants the option of withdrawing the exemption.

Insite does not supply drugs, but provides sanitary conditions for addicts while they inject drugs, medical supervision to help monitor for overdoses, clean needles and counselling for those seeking rehabilitation.

Advocates for the clinic say it prevents the spread of disease from dirty needles, has lowered the number of overdose deaths and increased the number of addicts who go into rehab.

Former minister of health Tony Clement said that money for safe injection sites could be better used for drug treatment programs.

Should drug injection sites be legal in Canada? Let us know what you think.



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