Safe consumption sites wanted by Winnipeg drug users, health workers: survey

Drug users and the people who support them arein favour of a safe consumption site inWinnipeg, a new study suggests.

More than 80 per cent of the drug users interviewed in the survey are likely or very likely to use a safe injection site, while the majority of service providers areon board with the proposalif drug users are.

The study was the result of a working group from several health agencies,including the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Sunshine House. They received a $15,000 grant to explore the viability of asafe-injection site in Winnipeglast year.

The Opposition NDP accused the provincial government Monday of trying to burythe report, which it did not publicize. The party then latched onto a moment during question period when Manitoba Premier Brian Pallisterreceived a copyand dropped it on the floor behind him, which he sometimes does with papers he receives.

"Will the premier bother to read the report that his own government asked for?" Kinew asked.

Public spaces sought

Pallister was seen flipping throughthe report after question period.

The surveyfound that health advocates are generally supportive of the development of a safe- or supervised-consumption site, but they highlightedpotential concerns such as the location chosen, the needs of law enforcement and the laws against assisted injection for people who cannot consume the drug themselves.

By and large, the advocates wanted more public spaces where people can use drugs, or simply be. A safe consumption sitecould be oneanswer, they said.

"Providerperspectives varied on the degree to which [safe consumption sites]in Winnipeg are a priority, but they supported the establishment of [safe consumption sites] within the continuum of harm reduction and substance use services, especially if people who use drugs would value and access the service," the report said.

"Further, providers were concerned about the lack of public and provincial government support for [safe consumption sites]."

Among their recommendations, they proposed involving people who use drugs in the development of a safe consumption site and establishing multiple inner-city locations.

Thirty-eight drug users were asked for their thoughts on a safe consumption site, with a majority of them in favour.

The report notedthegreatestsource of harm in their lives was not the drugsbut the world surroundingthem, such as criminalization, imposed family separation and the stigma related to drug use.

Users also want safe spaces to sleep, eat and socialize in, sincemore than 50 per cent of the people surveyed did not have a place to call home.

Benefits 'speak for themselves'

"I think the benefits of safer consumption spaces really do speak for themselves," said John Schellenberg, active planning and sustainability co-ordinator for Sunshine House,a Winnipeg drop-in centrefocusedon harm reduction.

"We're really excited about the possibility of Winnipegfinally being able to offer this innovative service to people."

While most users surveyed expected to use a safe consumption site, slightly more respondents (84 per cent) said they were likely to use the existing rapid access addiction medicine clinics that have been a cornerstone of the Progressive Conservatives' commitment to address drug addictions.

At question period on Monday, Pallister repeated hisprevious argument that safe injection sites do not help people struggling withmethamphetamine.

He said NDP Leader Wab Kinewis "consumed by the idea" that getting drugs to people will make a difference.

"I recently spoke to Premier Horgan in British Columbia and he says, 'I hope your opposition recognizes the unintended consequences of these actions,'" Pallister said.

Schellenbergsaid governments of any stripe are reluctant to support controversial proposals like safe consumptionsites, but he said the facility would save money by diverting drug users from emergency rooms and drunk tanks.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew says the government's reluctance to follow this report's adviceis evident. It was initially published last week on the Sunshine House website.

"They've chosen not to release it, not to put a press release around it, not to publicize the fact that this thing is nowavailable," he said. "Thefact that they don't like the answer is the reason that they're not willing to stand up and talk about it."

The WRHA said in a statement that it appreciates the work of the working group and would review the report's findings.