General News Controversial clinic gives heroin to addicts

Interesting. I suspect this is an outgrowth of the supervised injection site, also in Vancouver, that was started by Gabor Matè MD many years ago.

Both are focused on harm reduction for chronic long-term users. From a public health perspective, in a country focused on quality, affordable health care, it makes sense. They reduce OD treatment, infections, transmission of various diseases by shared needle use, but also reduce crime, as addicts don't have to steal to pay for their habit.

Additionally, studies have shown that neither the supervised injection clinics or the ones that furnish drugs increase use or encourage users. They are documented to save lives, and many people do eventually seek treatment for addiction as a result of building rapport with staff.

When conservative parliament members were elected promising to shut the supervised injection site down some years ago, Dr. mate met with them, spent a half day showing them around and talking about the philosophy. The result was the conservatives actually increased the budget to improve and enlarge the program.

People have to really understand the underpinnings of addiction to understand why programs like this do help and so save lives and increase quality of life.

 

Hadn't seen this. Vermont has a terrible opiate problem and is also a pretty progressive place. Glad to see them taking positive steps.