Safe injection services will expand, says Vancouver Coastal Health doctor

Vancouver Coastal Health is optimistic it will expand its supervised injection services, despite federal legislation that critics fear will make it harder to open new facilities.

• Insitesupervised injection site marks 10-year milestone

Dr. John Carsley,Medical Health Officer, says supervised injection sites, like Insite in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside,have proven successful and there is a need for expansionthroughout B.C.'s Lower Mainland.

"Right now people are lining up and they shouldn't have to line up," saidCarsley.

Heenvisions more supervised injection services being established in community health centres throughout the region.

"Where are the people who need the services?That actually should guide our planning for all health services, not just safe injection sites."

Government opposed to safe injection sites

Lastweek, Parliamentpassed Bill C-2, the Respect for Communities Act and it is now making it way through the Senate.

As Canada's first supervised injection site,Insite has received a Health Canada exemption that allows it to continue to operate.

• Insitesupervised injection site receives Health Canada exemption

Vancouver Coastal Health is required to apply for anexemption every year in order to keep operatingthe facility.

Carselysays if passed, the proposedlegislation couldmake the process of applying for an exemption more onerous and time consuming.

The Conservative government is opposed to supervised injection sitesand has taken its fight against the facilities to theSupreme Court of Canada.

In alandmark 2011 ruling,the court foundthat not allowing the clinic to operate would violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• Vancouver's Insite drug injection clinic will stay open

In the end, Carsleysays, he is optimisticthe latest proposedlegislation will notbecome a major stumbling block for expansion.

To hear the full interview with Dr. Carsley, listen to the audio labelled : Supervised safe injection expansion