City May Open Site for Users to Shoot Up

[eric&gen 0]

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 18) - City health officials took steps Thursday toward opening the nation's first legal safe-injection room, where addicts could shoot up heroin, cocaine and other drugs under the supervision of nurses.

Hoping to reduce San Francisco's high rate of fatal drug overdoses, the public health department co-sponsored a symposium on the only such facility in North America, a 4-year-old Vancouver site where an estimated 700 users a day self-administer narcotics under the supervision of nurses.

"Having the conversation today will help us figure out whether this is a way to reduce the harms and improve the health of our community," said Grant Colfax, director of HIV prevention for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Organizers of the daylong forum, which also included a coalition of nonprofit health and social-service groups, acknowledge that it could take years to get an injection facility up and running. Along with legal hurdles, such an effort would be almost sure to face political opposition.

Bertha Madras, deputy director of demand reduction for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, called San Francisco's consideration of such a facility "disconcerting" and "poor public policy."

"The underlying philosophy is, 'We accept drug addiction, we accept the state of affairs as acceptable,"' Madras said. "This is a form of giving up."

Sixty-five similar facilities exist in 27 cities in eight countries, but no other U.S. cities have considered creating one, according to Hilary McQuie, Western director for the Harm Reduction Coalition, a nonprofit that promotes alternative drug treatment methods.

"If it happens anywhere in the U.S., it will most likely start in San Francisco," McQuie said. "It really just depends on if there is a political will here. How long it takes for that political will to develop is the main factor."

Drug overdoses represented about one of every seven emergency calls handled by city paramedics between July 2006 and July 2007, according to San Francisco Fire Department Capt. Niels Tangherlini. At the same time, the number of deaths linked to overdoses has declined from a high of about 160 in 1995 to 40 in 2004, he said.

Colfax estimated that there are between 11,000 and 15,000 intravenous drug users in San Francisco, most of them homeless men. Like many large U.S. cities, the city operates a clean-needle exchange program to reduce HIV and hepatitis C infections.

Advocates plan to work on building community support for a safe-injection center, including backing from Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Board of Supervisors.

While it's too early to tell what the room in San Francisco would look like, Vancouver's InSite program is located on the upper floor of a low-rise building in a downtown neighborhood where drug users shoot up in the open.

The site, exempt from federal drug laws so users can visit without fear of arrest, has 12 private booths where addicts inject drugs such as heroin, cocaine or crystal. They can use equipment and techniques provided by the staff, said Thomas Kerr, a University of British Columbia researcher who has extensively studied the program.

While 800 overdoses have occurred on the premises, Kerr said, none of them resulted in death because of the medical supervision provided at InSite. His research also has shown an increase in addicts seeking drug treatment and a decrease in abandoned syringes, needle-sharing, drug-related crime and other problems since the clinic opened, he said.

The results indicate the idea is worth replicating, despite the criticism it may attract, Kerr said.

"I prefer the approach of the Vancouver Police Department, which was: 'We don't like the idea of this, but let's look at the evidence and at the end of three years we will tell you either this is something we can support or it's something we can't support,"' he said.

[mRx 16]

While designing this drug-using sanctuary, perhaps they could consider building in a mini-pawn shop so an addict can exchange the lawnmower he just stole for some fresh blow. It would really streamline the whole junkie process.

[Jasman0717 9]

I don't necessarily believe this is the answer either but maybe it will make it a bit safer for them. Would the junkies trust it. I would be thinking 'busted'

[Drew and Tik 0]

While I am pretty liberal about drug policy reform (especially for someone working in law enforcement), using tax dollars to support hard drug users doesn't seem like a good policy. Jas could be right, in that it may make it safer for these [let's just say it] criminals, but Matt is also right...these people aren't productive members of society. While I agree that there are many people that use drugs like marijuana occasionally that are still very respectable, responsible members of society, homeless people that use heroin are [let's just say it again] worthless scum. They are homeless for a reason (not social injustice or economic hardship which may very well be the case in some homeless people's lives), and that reason is their own inability to fulfill a moral obligation to themselves, their country, and in many ways, their families. To get to that point where every single person you knew doesn't trust you enough to help you, you have to be pretty bad.

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

san fran, not surprising. cali tax dollars at work

[Alex+R 0]

It seems like overall it actually saves taxpayers money, considering the cost of an ER visit/death. A few years ago I was talking to a cab driver in Amsterdam about a similar program (which went even a few steps further, housing the addicts). They felt it had saved them money. This is the kind of practical policymaking that upsets people the same way teaching kids in school that (gasp!) sex exists(!) upsets people. If you look past your emotions you'll see it's an effective program.

[eric&gen 0]

I guess its ok to do drugs then right thats what they are promoting? lol. I think it a bad idea just going to make the situation worse.

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

It seems like overall it actually saves taxpayers money, considering the cost of an ER visit/death. A few years ago I was talking to a cab driver in Amsterdam about a similar program (which went even a few steps further, housing the addicts). They felt it had saved them money. This is the kind of practical policymaking that upsets people the same way teaching kids in school that (gasp!) sex exists(!) upsets people. If you look past your emotions you'll see it's an effective program.

if saving money is an issue, just allow the police to shoot them on sight.

[Drew and Tik 0]

Yeah, like I said, I'm pretty liberal on moral issues so I really don't mind sex education or anything like that. Not so much of a moral issue as it is a social one here though. Sex is something natural that to majority of normal people do. Drugs (or this kind of drug use at least) is not at all compatible with what it means to be a responsible, productive member of society or a natural human being. Maybe it would save money on some front, or maybe Charles' idea is just as good if that's the issue we're concerned with Just let them die maybe? How many chances can you give a person before you give up on them ever becoming anything worthwhile?

I know that sounds like such a harsh, jerk thing to say, but there's making mistakes and then there's ruining the life of yourself, everyone you ever come close to or touch, and society in general. If you can't afford food or shelter, but you can afford junk then you are definitely far beyond the point where anyone can help you except yourself, and even then, you have a fraction of a chance of success.

[Alex+R 0]

But they said the example center had already shown an increase in people seeking treatment. So it helps the drug problem overall.

IMO, no person who is alive is past being worth our compassion and worth another chance at rehabilitating. We don't talk about alcoholics like this, just because it's a more bourgeois affliction and has less violent consequences (sometimes).

Edited October 20, 2007 by Alex+R

[trailmix 77]

Yeah, like I said, I'm pretty liberal on moral issues so I really don't mind sex education or anything like that. Not so much of a moral issue as it is a social one here though. Sex is something natural that to majority of normal people do. Drugs (or this kind of drug use at least) is not at all compatible with what it means to be a responsible, productive member of society or a natural human being. Maybe it would save money on some front, or maybe Charles' idea is just as good if that's the issue we're concerned with Just let them die maybe? How many chances can you give a person before you give up on them ever becoming anything worthwhile?

I know that sounds like such a harsh, jerk thing to say, but there's making mistakes and then there's ruining the life of yourself, everyone you ever come close to or touch, and society in general. If you can't afford food or shelter, but you can afford junk then you are definitely far beyond the point where anyone can help you except yourself, and even then, you have a fraction of a chance of success.

I agree with Alex+R. It's easy to look at people who are homeless and drug addicts etc etc and call them scum and worthless. The fact is that not everyone is cut out for this world. Sometimes life is tough and sometimes it is more than some people can do and occasionally they get caught up in something like drug use, which initially probably makes it all a little bit easier.

Compassion is the key. "How many chances can you give a person before you give up on them ever becoming anything worthwhile"? As many as they need

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It seems like overall it actually saves taxpayers money, considering the cost of an ER visit/death. A few years ago I was talking to a cab driver in Amsterdam about a similar program (which went even a few steps further, housing the addicts). They felt it had saved them money. This is the kind of practical policymaking that upsets people the same way teaching kids in school that (gasp!) sex exists(!) upsets people. If you look past your emotions you'll see it's an effective program.

I'm with Alex. Most people are not addicts and this won't create an epidemic. Alcohol can be bought on almost any street corner and people are OK with it.

I just think it's funny for people who get their drug from a bottle to down people who get their drug from a needle.

[MissStacey 1]

If people are going to shoot drugs- at least they are in a somewhat safe environment, have access to clean needles and medical attention if they need it.

[Drew and Tik 0]

But they said the example center had already shown an increase in people seeking treatment. So it helps the drug problem overall.

IMO, no person who is alive is past being worth our compassion and worth another chance at rehabilitating. We don't talk about alcoholics like this, just because it's a more bourgeois affliction and has less violent consequences (sometimes).

For someone on that level of addiction to any intoxicant I would hold the same opinion as to their social "worth." Whether the drug is legal or illegal, if you aren't able to feed yourself and take a bath, but you can buy alcohol, you're just as bad as the worst junkie or crackhead on the the street.

Maybe if I thought these were "recreational" heroin users I would see it in a different light. I don't think heroin can be used in this way.

Also on a real moral topic, not just Nancy Reagan just say no BS, heroin and cocaine kill many innocent people in South America. One of my roommates is Columbian and he absolutely despises any American or European that does coke or heroin and doesn't realize that every time they take a sniff of blow or shoot up junk people are literally dying for that. You couldn't expect these people to appreciate the sacrifice made for their high.

[trailmix 77]

For someone on that level of addiction to any intoxicant I would hold the same opinion as to their social "worth." Whether the drug is legal or illegal, if you aren't able to feed yourself and take a bath, but you can buy alcohol, you're just as bad as the worst junkie or crackhead on the the street.

Apples and oranges - 'social' worth - human worth.