BC NDP Health Policy Review Committee: Harm Reduction 2003

WHEREAS the B.C. NDP recognizes drug addiction as a health issue; and

WHEREAS harm reduction is a pragmatic approach that focuses on decreasing the negative consequences of drug use for communities and individuals, recognizing that abstinence-based approaches may not be a realistic goal for some drug users, particularly in the short term; and

WHEREAS Vancouver has now successfully opened North America's first Safe Injection Site (SIS) in order to prevent overdose deaths, reduce spread of disease, and end public drug use; and

WHEREAS Vancouver's SIS is an historic step in moving towards a more compassionate response to the drug crisis providing supervision of injections, including emergency response to drug overdoses; injection-related first aid; assessment and referral to primary health care and service providers; harm reduction teaching and counselling; and access to condoms, needles and other injecting equipment; and

WHEREAS Vancouver's SIS, while providing a safer place to use, does not provide narcotics themselves requiring addicts to continue illegally purchasing drugs on the streets; and

WHEREAS prescription of narcotics have been proven to be a successful treatment option in other jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS Vancouver's SIS is limited to serving the drug addicted population of the Downtown Eastside; and

WHEREAS drug addiction hurts individuals and communities in other parts of BC other than Vancouver; and

WHEREAS the B.C. NDP believes health care is a right for all;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a B.C. NDP government would ensure necessary health services are available to every British Columbian and work towards the implementation of a province wide comprehensive harm reduction strategy that would include:

• Designation of drug addiction as a disability;
• Expansion of SIS facilities to communities across BC that suffer from drug related harm;
• Heroin and stimulant prescription trails and opiate replacement therapy; and
• Creation of dedicated social housing for people suffering from drug addiction.