Friday, October 19th 2007
Shot up in Safety
This week in San Francisco, an idea has been floating around to create and sterile place where drug users can safely use their drugs. The San Francisco Chronicle has a summary of the idea:
About 150 people gathered Thursday in the Mission District to discuss an idea that some say is crazy even for San Francisco: opening a city-funded, legal center where intravenous drug users can congregate, get free needles and inject themselves in a safe environment.
Momentum for such a center seems to be gaining strength among drug reform advocates and some public health workers, who say it will help stop the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, prevent deaths from drug overdoses and keep dirty needles off city streets.
A center like this exists in Vancouver and many have been operating in Europe for several years. However, the article reports no politicians are championing the idea.
I don’t like this safe drug use center idea. It tells people even though it is illegal to use drugs, we are going to make it as safe and easy as possible for you to do so. If drugs are going to be illegal, then the city should not encourage people to break the law.
I would also like to know who would pay for this center. I hope public funds will not be used to buy needles for people who chose to spend their money on drugs.
