Webinar 2- Safe Injection Sites PDF

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Summary

Outline: abstinence, harm reduction, safe injection sites, controlled drugs and substances act, obtaining substance, public opinion, benefits of safe injection sites...

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Webinar 2- Safe Injection Sites: Abstince vs harm Reduction and Legal Implications Initial Thoughts? What are some of the pros and cons? - Pros: safe space; reduced infection rates and diseases people usually get due to sharing needles, etc. - Cons: may promote the use of these drugs - Makes the areas unsafe - Paraphernalia being left around the community Abstinence • The process of abstaining—meaning avoiding, or not engaging in—certain potentially addictive substance or behaviours • Doesn’t mean the people in the injection sites aren’t going to use drugs, it means they’re going to use them in a less safe way Harm Reduction • An approach to substance abuse prevention and treatment that seeks to minimize the harm associated with substance use as its primary goal • Fits best with safe injection sites; improve the wellbeing of the individuals involved Discuss Safe Injection Sites in Terms of Abstinence vs Harm Reduction Approaches - Can you think of other public health issues related to this debate? - Sex education; a way to ensure that people are safe doing the things that they are going to do anything - Relates to safe injection sites Safe Injection site in Oshawa - People are using the drugs anyway in public spaces so having a safe space will decrease less safe, public drug us - If injecting at a safe injection site- there is staff, there to help save people if possible overdose - Previous drug user- said a safe place to shoot drugs would make people more likely to do it b/c they will have less fear of dying since there’s staff there - Fear of death isn’t a major fear in drug users Does Safe Injection Sites encourage or condone illegal drug use? - No, it is individuals with a very tough time- isn’t a fun place or of interest to non addicts - Counter arguments that it does condone b/c clean needles, etc. - BUT for the most part these people are already using, they need help - Reduces crime rate in area - Peace of mind, safer community- not very encouraging Controlled Drugs and Substance Act Possession of substance (1) Except as authorized under the regulations, no person shall possess a substance included in Schedule I, II or III.

Obtaining substance • (2) No person shall seek or obtain • (a) a substance included in Schedule I, II, III or IV, or • (b) an authorization to obtain a substance included in Schedule I, II, III or IV • from a practitioner, unless the person discloses to the practitioner particulars relating to the acquisition by the person of every substance in those Schedules, and of every authorization to obtain such substances, from any other practitioner within the preceding thirty days. *Schedule 1 substances include Opiates • Punishment • (3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) where the subject-matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule I • (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years; or • (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable • (i) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both, and • (ii) for a subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both. What are the implications for the legality of drug possession? - Consider Canada’s Controlled Substances Act - Intention of sites is to keep it contained, not near kids, not harming the community Public Opinion • Based on public opinion survey of U.S. adults in July-August 2017 (N=1004) • Arguments were identified through a detailed scan of news media coverage, public reports, and advocacy materials. Most strongly endorsed arguments against • Public funds would be better spent on addiction treatment • Sites allow illegal activity • Sites encourage people to use drugs Most strongly endorsed arguments for • Better alternative than arresting people for using drug • Reduce HIV and hepatitis C by encouraging safe injection practices • Lower emergency department admission and hospitalization costs Benefits of safe injection sites • Systematic review of 75 articles published primarily in Canada and Australia • All studies converged to find that SISs demonstrated efficacy in • attracting the most marginalized people who inject drugs • promoting safer injection conditions • enhancing access to primary health care • reducing the overdose frequency • SISs were found to be associated with reduced levels of public drug injections and dropped syringes

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SISs were not found to • increase drug injecting, drug trafficking or crime in the surrounding environments...