Insite: Vancouver's safe injection site

[Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Kungfuzed

I overdosed on melatonin once. Fell asleep on Saturday morning and didn't wake up until Sunday night. Felt totally robbed that I didn't get a weekend.

Heh, I've had a similar story. I'm EXTREMELY sensitive to Benzodiazepenes, but my doctor though it'd be swell to give me some Lorazepam, and not a low dose either. I fell asleep on my floor Wednesday morning, then slept a good long while. When I asked my roommate what time it was, he just replied with "Friday". Apparently I was awake most of the time too, going to classes, eating meals, and even doing my homework. It was bizarre.

More on topic, I think safe injection sites are a dumb idea, and I'm usually pretty pro-whatever-you-want-in-your-body. If you're gonna let people go ahead and break laws legitimately, just make it legal already. If such drugs were legal, I'd be all for this. Hell, make it a service. Five bucks and I'll make sure you're cool and safe!

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by Zephyr

More on topic, I think safe injection sites are a dumb idea, and I'm usually pretty pro-whatever-you-want-in-your-body. If you're gonna let people go ahead and break laws legitimately, just make it legal already. If such drugs were legal, I'd be all for this. Hell, make it a service. Five bucks and I'll make sure you're cool and safe!

I sympathize with your sentiment. The site was intended to demonstrate to the government that it was possible to reduce harm and provide treatment to addicts through such facilities. If it could be demonstrated, the case could be made for decriminalization of drugs (note that's not the same as legalization). So far, the medical community and the city of Vancouver has been convinced, but the (conservative) federal government isn't so sure.

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

Is it that big a deal if a drug addict over-doses? In some ways, you could say we are only prolonging their suffering.

Actually, it's been demonstrated to do the opposite. The drug-users get a "clean" high. I mean, the drug does what it's supposed to do, and the effects are bad, of course. But the user doesn't overdose or use a needle infected with hepatitis or AIDS. On top of that, the site acts as a resource center helping the addicts get treatment. So harm is actually reduced, even if prolonged.

[Circle_One]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

Is it that big a deal if a drug addict over-doses? In some ways, you could say we are only prolonging their suffering.

Well, as a recovering cocaine addict, I think I'd like to just give my two cents on this sentence.

Drug addicts ARE people too.