B.C. Supreme Court Justice, Ian Pitfield, granted users and staff at Vancouver Coastal Health’s popular but controversial facility known as “Insite”, a permanent Constitutional exemption from prosecution under Federal Drug Laws, Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

This decision, which saved North America’s only sanctioned safe-injection site from closure, was subsequently challeneged by Health Minister Tony Clement who asked the Federal Justice Minister to appeal this decision.

Continued exemption under this law is currently before the courts, and MNU President, Sandi Mowat, took this opportunity to make Minister Clement aware of the MNU AGM motion and decision to support Insite.

Dear Minister Clement,

I urge you to abandon your appeal of the B.C. Supreme Court’s decision regarding Insite. As a nurse, I worked in a large inner city hospital for 17 years. I am familiar with the devastating impact addiction has on the lives of those afflicted, their families and our communities. Addiction is a complex disease that requires complex treatment. Harm reduction is an essential part of a broader strategy that includes prevention, treatment and enforcement.

Peer reviewed research clearly shows that supervised injection sites work. They reduce deaths from overdoses, reduce public disorder and help users find detox and treatment options. Insite has taken one million injections out of Vancouver’s back alleys.

In April of 2008 over 500 nurses at our annual meeting put forward a motion of support for Insite. They join the legion of other health care professionals, scientists, researchers and international bodies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization who support harm reduction as a method of dealing with drug addiction in our communities.

In his decision Judge Pitfield of the B.C. Supreme Court recognized Insite’s essential role as a primary health care facility and a necessary access point for people who are clearly sick. I urge you to respect that decision and to use our financial resources not to proceed with legal action but to support and strengthen community initiatives such as Insite.

Sincerely,

Sandi Mowat,
President

Insite has taken one million injections out of Vancouver’s back alleys.