North America's first legal injection site challenged by federal government
Vancouver, BC - February 15, 2010 - North America's first legal safe injection site is facing another court challenge after the federal government appealed a recent ruling by the B.C. Court of Appeal allowing the health care facility to stay open.
Since Insite opened its doors in Vancouver in 2003, it has had more than 1.5 million visits from local drug users. Last year alone, the facility intervened in 484 overdoses with no fatalities and referred 6,242 clients to other health and social services, including detox and addiction treatment.
Insite was established for a number of reasons; to reduce public injecting, reduce the level of HIV transmission through needle sharing and to increase the number of users entering treatment facilities. Many of Insite's benefits to their clients are also beneficial to the health care system in British Columbia. The reduction of overdoses and the HIV transmission rate in the community takes the burden off hospitals from emergency room visits and costly treatments.
The latest appeal by the federal government challenges whether Insite provides a health care service, which falls under provincial jurisdiction. The case will now be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada, and it will be decided once and for all which level of government has control of this highly controversial facility.
For those interested in a career in health care or addictions services, Vancouver Career College offers diploma programs in Addictions Support and Practical Nursing.