Running head: EXPANSION OF SAFE INJECTION FACILITIES
The Expansion of Safe Injection Facilities in Ontario
Trilliun Gray
Durham College
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EXPANSION OF SAFE INJECTION FACILITIES
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Abstract
Canada has an estimated 125, 000 injection drug users. There is a rising concern about the
negative outcomes that follow negligent intravenous drug use. The expanded installment of safe
injection facilities in specific areas of concern would significantly reduce the incidence of fatal
overdoses, disease and infection transmission, unsafe disposal of contaminated paraphernalia,
and the metonymy of public disorder. Safe injection sites have the resources needed to improve
the health, relationships, and communities of injection drug users. These facilities offer
monitored drug consumption, sterile syringes and other drug intake equipment, proper disposal
of tainted tools, health care referrals, support, and education services. Without the necessary
action of safe injection site expansion, the rate of these risks will continue to increase.
EXPANSION OF SAFE INJECTION FACILITIES
COMM2316
Instructor: Laura Dunbar
March 28th, 2014
Trilliun Gray
CRN 26676
The Expansion of Safe Injection Facilities in Ontario
In Canada, there are an estimated 125,000 injection drug users, one third of who reside in the
cities of Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto (Fisher, Rehm, Kim, 2002). Several risks are
involved with the use of illegal intravenous drugs. The perils involved in negligent drug use
include: fatal overdose, infection, blood borne disease transmission, imprudent disposable of
contaminated equipment, and drug related crimes (Fisher, Rehm, Kim, 2002). These adverse
consequences affect not only the user, but their families, friends, and communities. The rate of
these negative outcomes has continued to rise in Canadian cities for decades (Fisher, Rehm,
Kim, 2002). The expansion of safe injection facilities across Ontario would radically reduce the
detrimental effects of intravenous drug use by providing monitored narcotic consumption,
readily available education and support, referrals for treatment, sterile syringes and equipment,
and methods for proper disposal of soiled tools (Vancouver Coastal Health, 2013).
Studies analyzing the first North American safe injection site show that these facilities
produce a 35% decrease in lethal overdose cases within the community of application (Beyrer,
2011). Medical supervision for injection drug users exerts a considerable transformative
influence on the management of a potential overdose which has been proven to save lives. A
report from the first North American safe injection facility states, “Although there have been
1418 overdoses at InSite between 2004 and 2010, staff were able to successfully intervene each
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time. There has never been a fatality at InSite since opening” (Vancouver Coastal Health, 2013).
Many factors can impact the injection procedure to result in an overdose. Aspects leading up to
the incident could be caused by drug potency ignorance, lack of education about the procedure,
self-harm, suicide, and other personal conditions. The health care team provided to the patients at
these facilities offer more than just resuscitation. They offer help.
Undeniably, circulating infected syringes and additional equipment among injection drug
users will generally lead to serious illness. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis
C virus (HCV) have been recognized as recurrently transmitted diseases amid intravenous drug
users (Hagan, Des Jarlais, 2000). Hagan and Des Jarlais confirm, “These two pathogens are also
likely to be responsible for the highest infectious disease morbidity and mortality rates among
drug injectors worldwide” (Hagan, Des Jarlais, 2000). The apprehension surrounding virus
transmission will exacerbate until appropriate action is taken. An advisable resolution to this
epidemic would be increasing the number of safe injection sites throughout problematic regions.
Safe injection facilities reduce the risk behaviour presented by offering policies of sanitation and
caution. In addition, the clinic provides health care connections and support services for afflicted
users (Vancouver Coastal Health, 2013).
Unregulated public drug use occurs in many neighborhoods generating community concern
about the discarded waste (Wood et al., 2004). Careless disposal of tainted intravenous materials
pose a threat to the people of that region. The litter produced typically consists of: sterile water
containers, cookers, syringe wrappers, caps, and syringes (Wood et al., 2004). The detritus is a
representative trope of public disorder with historical connections that symbolically epitomize
poverty and communal despair, but the central concern lies with the used needles. A study
conducted by the Canadian Medical Association Journal reveals, “Significant reductions in
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public injection drug use, publicly discarded syringes, and injection-related litter were found
after the opening of the medically supervised safer injecting facility in Vancouver” (Wood et al.,
2004). The expansion of safe injection facilities throughout affected areas will improve contact
prevention, public order, and the overall safety of the public.
Intravenous drug use has vandalized communities, families, relationships, and public health
resources. Without action our country will continue to anguish over the ramification of substance
abuse. Attention to the increasing rate of overdose, disease transmission, and public disorder
should be paid by expanding the existence of safe injection facilities around the country.
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References
Beyrer, C. (2011). Safe injection facilities save lives. The Lancet, 377(9775), 1385-6.Retrieved
from http://search.proquest.com.dproxy.library.dcuoit.ca/docview/863827967?accountid=26375
Fischer, B., Rehm, J., & Kim, G. (2002). Safer injection facilities (SIFs) for injection drug users
(IDUs) in Canada. Revue canadienne de santé publique, 93(5). Retrieved from
http://pubs.cpha.ca/PDF/P26/20180.pdf
Hagan, H., & Jarlais, D. C. D. (2000). HIV and HCV Infection among Injecting Drug Users.
Retrieved from Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 67(5-6), 423-428.
Vancouver Coastal Health (2013). InSite- Supervised Injection Site: Services. Retrieved January
27, 2014, from http://supervisedinjection.vch.ca/services/
Wood, E., Kerr, T., Small, W., Li, K., Marsh, D. C., Montaner, J. S., & Tyndall, M. W. (2004).
Changes in public order after the opening of a medically supervised safer injecting
facility for illicit injection drug users. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 171(7),
731-734. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from http://www.cmaj.ca/content/171/7/731.full