Injection site shows early
signs of success
By Lesli Boldt, Corporate Communications, City of Vancouver

Early signs suggest that the supervised injection site is making a difference for injection drug users in Vancouver 's Downtown Eastside. Chris Buchner of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) told participants at the World AIDS Day forum in Vancouver on December 1 that inSite is logging an average of 500 client visits per day, up from 39 visits on its first day of operation.

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The Vancouver Police Department has implemented an Overdose Response Policy on a trial basis for one year, in an attempt to further reduce drug overdose deaths. The new policy is modeled after an innovative policy established by Emergency Service Personnel in South Australia, which is attributed to reducing overdose deaths by 6 per cent.

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News in brief
October/November 2003

• Toxic leukoencephalopathy continues to rise among BC heroin smokers
• Mexico's top drug prosecutor calls for legalization of drugs
• VCH hires Dr. David Marsh to coordinate drug and alcohol treatment programs
• UK MPs vote to downgrade cannabis
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A Vision for the
Heart of the City
By Larry Campbell, Mayor of Vancouver

Our overwhelming focus on substance use and addiction in this community often distracts our attention from the other major social and economic issues that often contribute to the cycle of addiction.

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A Chat with Dr.
Christophe Bürki
By Zarina Mulla, Social Planner, Drug Policy Program

Dr. Christophe Bürki, Director of The Heroin Prescription Clinic, KODA Bern, Switzerland, was recently in Vancouver at the 29th Canadian Congress on Criminal Justice. I was fortunate to be able to engage him in several conversations about drug issues in Switzerland.
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