In re: CNN's recent coverage of Vancouver's safe shooting program.
Vancouver has been on the cutting edge of addressing the myriad risks associated with injection drug use. One of the approaches is a safe shooting site - IDU's are provided with sterile supplies, are able to inject in a safe space, have access to medical intervention if necessary (OD) and have resources at hand to deal with the larger addiction picture as an option.
It's been a controversial program from the get go. Not sure why CNN chose to run a piece about it today. Perhaps there were recent legal / public issues? That would make sense to develop a report for CNN review.
In any event, I found one glaring omission. Harm reduction.
Vancouver may be a controversial component of harm reduction, yet they are part and parcel of a broad public health approach to limiting the spread of blood borne infections that accompany injecting.
Hundreds of safe, legal syringe exchange programs are part of the picture as well. Exchange programs trade sterile syringes for used syringes and see that they are safely disposed.
Harm reduction recognizes a whole range of responses to drug use.
In the syringe exchange situation the focus is primarily minimizing infections. It's really a targeted approach. They work within the larger spectrum of the whole thing, and no longer outside of it.
I wish the media coverage would include that big picture.
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