Ottawa plans to take the fight against Insite to the Supreme Court of Canada. With similar safe injections sites being considered in Toronto, Ottawa and other cities, this decision could usher in big change in addiction treatment in Canada. Teen Challenge responds.

Supporters of Insite point to studies that report the safe injection site in Vancouver has reduced overdose deaths, reduced public disorder and seen addicts placed in detox and treatment programs. The world sees that these addicts aren’t doing as much harm to other people as they used to and cries Success!

But there’s not permanent life-changing hope. Addicts are being placed in 21 or 32 day programs with high relapse rates. They spend 11 days in detox and search out their dealer the moment they’re out because there isn’t lasting change.

We know what’s missing.

This is the work that Teen Challenge does. Teen Challenge offers addicts a long term program along with job and life skills training, biblical counselling, mentoring and discipleship opportunities. We offer addicts eternal hope, and that is the recipe for lasting change.

For more information about the Teen Challenge program click here.

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Ottawa seeks shutdown for B.C. safe-injection site

Alyssa Dalton and Neal Hall, Canwest News Service

Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010

OTTAWA -- The federal government plans to ask the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn a B.C. ruling that allowed a safe-injection site to remain open, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Tuesday.

On Jan. 15, the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the government's appeal, which allowed Insite, North America's only supervised injection site, to remain open.

"We recognize that injection drug users need assistance," said Mr. Nicholson. "This is why our National Anti-Drug strategy focuses on prevention and access to treatment for those with drug dependencies."

He said the government's policy aim is to get tough on "drug dealers and producers who threaten the safety of our children and communities.

"Our message is clear: If you sell or produce drugs, you will face jail time," said the minister.

Mr. Nicholson said the case has brought up jurisdictional issues between the provincial and federal governments and therefore needs clarification from the Supreme Court.

Insite originally opened in 2003 under a temporary exemption to national drug laws.

When the exemption was due to expire in 2008, Justice Ian Pitfield of the B.C. Supreme Court struck down sections of Canada's drug laws as unconstitutional and granted the facility a permanent exemption.

The ruling indicated that closing a health care service that can prevent death and the transmission of infectious disease goes against the right to life and security that are outlined in the charter of rights.

The B.C. appeal court ruled health care services provided at Insite are a provincial, not federal, responsibility, so the court found it was unnecessary to rule on the facility's constitutional right to exist.

The ruling upheld Justice Pitfield's trial decision.

Mark Townsend, executive director of the Portland Hotel Society Community Services, which runs Insite with Vancouver Coastal Health, said he was disappointed by Ottawa's plan to appeal.

"The courts have now ruled twice in favour of Insite," he said. "We wish (Prime Minister) Stephen Harper would stop wasting court time and the taxpayers' money and start helping to solve the drug problem in our community."

Since Insite opened in 2003, there have been more than 40 peer-reviewed academic papers, reports and studies published in scientific medical journals verifying Insite's success.

The reports concluded Insite prevents overdose deaths, limits the spread of disease, reduces public disorder and moves more people into detox and addiction treatment, while saving taxpayer dollars.

In 2008, the Portland Hotel Society and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users launched a constitutional challenge of the federal government's power to close the facility, arguing the site, in the long term, saves lives and taxpayer money.

Vancouver Sun

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