Community meeting on harm reduction in Ottawa

This public forum on July 14, 2008 in Ottawa will be one of three public forums in a speakers series that also includes events in Toronto and Montreal.

The series will present two powerful speakers who have experience with the implementation of harm reduction approaches. Liz Evans, the executive director and founder of the Portland Hotel Society -- the community
organization that operates the supervised injection site -- will be speaking along with Tony Trimingham, a parent of an addict who died of an overdose and longtime activist for the supervised injection site in King's Cross, Australia.

They will be reporting on the health care benefits of supervised injection sites, and discussing the implications of the recent BC Supreme Court decision for communities across the country.

As you know, the BC Supreme Court recently ruled that the application of Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in regards to Insite, Vancouver's Supervised Injection site is inconsistent with Section 7 of
the Charter of Right and Freedoms, protecting life and security of the person. As a result, Justice Ian Pitfield's judgment grants InSite a permanent constitutional exemption from federal drug laws, allowing InSite to legally continue its life saving work.

Justice Pitfield's decision is significant. Recognising addiction for what it is, a chronic relapsing disease that requires more than a criminal justice approach, but rather a public health care response that minimizes the harm caused by illicit drugs, and keeping people alive long enough for them access detox and treatment.

While this decision specifically affects Insite, allowing the primary health care facility to remain open indefinitely, Justice Pitfield's decision has ramifications outside of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, affecting communities across Canada struggle to address the tragic consequences of drug addiction.

Below is a link to a video made by Tony Trimingham to demonstrate the importance of supervised injection facilities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ox3QaQmJ0g&mode=user&search

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