OTTAWA -- Eliminating the safe injection site in Vancouver would have a negative impact on First Nations people battling addiction, the head of a national native addictions group said this afternoon.
Sharon Clarke, executive director of the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, made the comments at the end of a news conference where Health Minister Tony Clement -- who is the minister in charge of the safe injection site file -- announced a $30.5-million cash injection to enhance native drug and alcohol treatment programs.
"The safe injection site filled a very important gap that was existing before," Clarke said, as Clement and Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl stood grim-faced behind her.
Clarke said the impact of removing the safe injection site would be "negative."
"We'd probably have, as we've had in the past, people (overdosing) in your alleys, people picking up diseases and dying when they don't have to," she said.
Clement has yet to decide whether or not the funding for the Vancouver experiment will be extended beyond this June. He has said a study commissioned by the government on the site has "mixed" results. Clement has also repeatedly said his government favours programs to get people off drugs.
That was the subject of his announcement today, with $30.5 million over five years to improve addictions treatment programs for aboriginal Canadians.
Clement said the prevalence of illegal drug use and the rates of mortality related to alcohol addiction among first nations people is more than double the rate of Canadašs general rate.
"Consequently it's very clear to all of that we need the best addictions services possible for first nation and Inuit people," said Clement.
The funding will be used to better align services with need, try and reach treatment services into rural and remote communities where need is high but access to treatment low if available at all.
Clement said the improvements should mean as many as 3,000 more people a year get access to addictions services.
mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
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