Free heroin planned for 2nd Vancouver injection site.VANCOUVER -- Vancouver may have a second drug injection sit but with a difference. If it gets the go ahead from the City and Health Canada Health Canada (French: Santé Canada) is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health. Health Canada's goal is to improve Canadian life by improving Canadian longevity, lifestyle and use of public healthcare. , it will supply free heroin heroin (hĕ`rəwən), opiate drug synthesized from morphine (see narcotic). Originally produced in 1874, it was thought to be not only nonaddictive but useful as a cure for respiratory illness and morphine addiction, and capable of relieving for injection purposes. Discussions are being held with the residents of Downtown Eastside The Downtown Eastside (DTES) is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The neighbourhood has a rich and colourful history and a strong community fabric. , Canada's largest and densest concentraction of drug users. The city is considering an appliction for rezoning for a new clinic in their neighbourhood. As part of a national experiment the facility would provide free heroin. The aim is to find out whether making the drug available through prescription improves the health of injection-drug users, reduces homelessness and cuts crime. The clientle would come to a high-security clinic up to three times a day, seven days a week, for heroin prescribed pre·scribe v. pre·scribed, pre·scrib·ing, pre·scribes v.tr. 1. To set down as a rule or guide; enjoin. See Synonyms at dictate. 2. To order the use of (a medicine or other treatment). by a physician. They would use the drug under supervision at the clinic. The plan is to provide heroin to 88 addicts and methadone methadone (mĕth`ədōn', –dŏn'), synthetic narcotic similar in effect to morphine. Synthesized in Germany, it came into clinical use after World War II. It is sometimes used as an analgesic and to suppress the cough reflex. to 70. After 12 months, the researchers intend to shift the addicts to methadone or abstinence abstinence: see fasting; temperance movements. . The clinic does not yet have Health Canada approval to open the heroin clinic. The survey of community opinion is one of the final stages in a lengthy two-year process to Obtain approval. Many residents, community groups and businesses welcome the clinic in the neighbourhood because it is expected to reduce criminal activity and take drug addiction drug addiction or chemical dependency Physical and/or psychological dependency on a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance (e.g., alcohol, narcotics, nicotine), defined as continued use despite knowing that the substance causes harm. off the streets. The site chosen is controversial--across the street from a day care centre and near a public school. A safe injection site for heroin and cocaine users was opened last month on the same street, but seven blocks down the road. The users supply their own drugs and clean equipment and the clinic provides the safe environment to use drugs. The clinic still has to receive licences to import the drug. Forty five legal heroin clinics operate worldwide in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Spain. Recently, a new one opened in Sydney, Australia. Last minute: an announcement from the Centre for Addictions and and mental health indicates this project is to be carried in Toronto and Vancouver. Because it did not have final approval, the project was kept under wraps. |
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