Binky
05-22-2005, 11:26 AM
The question of whether the City of Abbotsford should allow safe injections sites, needle exchanges and methadone treatment facilities was the centre of a passionate debate in Matsqui Centennial Auditorium on Monday night.
More than 25 people addressed council during the public hearing, arguing both for and against the city removing "harm reduction" as one of its preferred methods of treating drug addicts.
City councillors unanimously took a stance against harm reduction at a meeting in April - instead choosing to focus on the city's three remaining pillars of enforcement, education and treatment.
Councillors did not make a final decision on Monday, instead choosing to make their ruling at a future meeting. Council does not meet again until May 30.
During the two-hour session, representatives from a number of community groups suggested that eliminating harm reduction would hinder drug work already taking place in the community.
Dr. Andrew Larder, a medical health officer speaking on behalf of the Fraser Health Authority, said that the four pillars are needed to "ensure the development of an integrated health system."
He described harm reduction as an "integral component" of health care.
"The goal is to empower people to make changes that will have a long-term positive impact for themselves and their families," he said. Larder also said the city should discuss its position with the Fraser Health Authority to find an amicable solution.
Sean Spear, executive director of Impact, an Abbotsford substance abuse program, also spoke in favour of harm reduction programs. "These approaches . . . help them ( addicts ) stay alive. Hopefully they will get clean, and maybe they won't, but at least they will live another day," Spear said.
Spear, a former addict, said a harm reduction program saved his life.
"I respect the members of council and know you carried out a passionate fight around SE2. You care about environmental causes, and I hope if you try to push this bill through you can go to sleep thinking you put the same level of research into something like this. I really hope you have thought this through."
Sam Mohan, the program co-ordinator for Fraser Valley Connection Services, was another harm reduction proponent.
"We have to be able to say you are valued and respected and we want to work with you. Some people need a little bit of help and I am really stunned this is even an issue on the table," she said.
"This is way too important ( to rush a decision ) and you are going to kill too many people."
Mohan said she received a call from a council representative who told her he had found 3,200 used needles in Abbotsford.
"And you know what I said to him? Go and drop them on Mayor ( Mary ) Reeves' desk," she said.
Abbotsford resident Brian Carlisle stressed the importance of drug addicts being able to use clean needles.
"HIV and AIDs are epidemics . . . we could be talking about our future doctors and lawyers here. But because they shared that needle that day, they will never get the chance," he said.
The debate was far from one-sided, however, with representatives from a number of agencies speaking out against harm reduction.
Uultsje De Jong, representing the Abbotsford School Board, said the school board is against the policy.
"Like everybody, we are committed to helping our youth and we take drug abuse very seriously, De Jong said.
"But we have serious concerns about harm reduction. It has failed to reduce drug use in cities and communities and it will fail here as well. Harm reduction does not really reduce harm."
De Jong described harm reduction as "at best a stop-gap measure."
"This is taking resources away from detox centres and it is putting a small Band Aid on a large wound."
Brian Pierson, director of Teen Challenge B.C., a Christian-based organization that offers programs for addicts, also supported council's position.
"To give them more of the problem ( drugs ) in my mind is absolutely a deception to the public and is extremely costly . . . You will not want this in your community. Once it is in it is very difficult to remove," he said.
"Abbotsford is a community of morality and integrity and once you bring in stuff like this, it will go downhill rapidly."
Ultimately, Helmut Boehm, executive director of the Aldergrove-based Wagner Hills Farm Society, said council had taken a "courageous step" in taking a stand against harm reduction.
"If our experience is anything to go by, it will prove quite difficult for you to take this stance," he added.
Council's proposal would prohibit safe injection sites, needle exchanges, mobile dispensing vans, methadone treatment facilities and any similar services.
Any proposal for "harm reduction use" would have to go through the rezoning process.
Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact: editor@abbynews.com
Website: http://www.abbynews.com/
More than 25 people addressed council during the public hearing, arguing both for and against the city removing "harm reduction" as one of its preferred methods of treating drug addicts.
City councillors unanimously took a stance against harm reduction at a meeting in April - instead choosing to focus on the city's three remaining pillars of enforcement, education and treatment.
Councillors did not make a final decision on Monday, instead choosing to make their ruling at a future meeting. Council does not meet again until May 30.
During the two-hour session, representatives from a number of community groups suggested that eliminating harm reduction would hinder drug work already taking place in the community.
Dr. Andrew Larder, a medical health officer speaking on behalf of the Fraser Health Authority, said that the four pillars are needed to "ensure the development of an integrated health system."
He described harm reduction as an "integral component" of health care.
"The goal is to empower people to make changes that will have a long-term positive impact for themselves and their families," he said. Larder also said the city should discuss its position with the Fraser Health Authority to find an amicable solution.
Sean Spear, executive director of Impact, an Abbotsford substance abuse program, also spoke in favour of harm reduction programs. "These approaches . . . help them ( addicts ) stay alive. Hopefully they will get clean, and maybe they won't, but at least they will live another day," Spear said.
Spear, a former addict, said a harm reduction program saved his life.
"I respect the members of council and know you carried out a passionate fight around SE2. You care about environmental causes, and I hope if you try to push this bill through you can go to sleep thinking you put the same level of research into something like this. I really hope you have thought this through."
Sam Mohan, the program co-ordinator for Fraser Valley Connection Services, was another harm reduction proponent.
"We have to be able to say you are valued and respected and we want to work with you. Some people need a little bit of help and I am really stunned this is even an issue on the table," she said.
"This is way too important ( to rush a decision ) and you are going to kill too many people."
Mohan said she received a call from a council representative who told her he had found 3,200 used needles in Abbotsford.
"And you know what I said to him? Go and drop them on Mayor ( Mary ) Reeves' desk," she said.
Abbotsford resident Brian Carlisle stressed the importance of drug addicts being able to use clean needles.
"HIV and AIDs are epidemics . . . we could be talking about our future doctors and lawyers here. But because they shared that needle that day, they will never get the chance," he said.
The debate was far from one-sided, however, with representatives from a number of agencies speaking out against harm reduction.
Uultsje De Jong, representing the Abbotsford School Board, said the school board is against the policy.
"Like everybody, we are committed to helping our youth and we take drug abuse very seriously, De Jong said.
"But we have serious concerns about harm reduction. It has failed to reduce drug use in cities and communities and it will fail here as well. Harm reduction does not really reduce harm."
De Jong described harm reduction as "at best a stop-gap measure."
"This is taking resources away from detox centres and it is putting a small Band Aid on a large wound."
Brian Pierson, director of Teen Challenge B.C., a Christian-based organization that offers programs for addicts, also supported council's position.
"To give them more of the problem ( drugs ) in my mind is absolutely a deception to the public and is extremely costly . . . You will not want this in your community. Once it is in it is very difficult to remove," he said.
"Abbotsford is a community of morality and integrity and once you bring in stuff like this, it will go downhill rapidly."
Ultimately, Helmut Boehm, executive director of the Aldergrove-based Wagner Hills Farm Society, said council had taken a "courageous step" in taking a stand against harm reduction.
"If our experience is anything to go by, it will prove quite difficult for you to take this stance," he added.
Council's proposal would prohibit safe injection sites, needle exchanges, mobile dispensing vans, methadone treatment facilities and any similar services.
Any proposal for "harm reduction use" would have to go through the rezoning process.
Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact: editor@abbynews.com
Website: http://www.abbynews.com/