Insite gets six month extension.

Insite, Vancouver's safe injection clinic, had its license to operate extended to the end of June 2008. Health Minister Tony Clement has advised the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, which operates the clinic, that their exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act will not have to close on Dec. 31, 2007.

"This extension will allow research on how supervised injection sites affect prevention, treatment and crime to be continued for another six months, Clement said.

Insite enables illicit drug users to inject themselves in a clean environment with clean equipment. Health professionals are on site to help in cases of overdose and to advise on drug treatment programs.

The clinic has the backing of provincial and local public health authorities, and the provincial government. However, it does not have the approval of the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs, who have actively campaigned against Insite and any plans to carry the program over to other jurisdictions.