Safer injection facilities for injection drug users: the debate continues (2)

Canadian Medical Association Journal (19 February 2002), 166(4):422

The authors in this article propose a model of safe injection rooms that could be operate on a 24-hour basis every day to provide adequate services whenever needed and prevent risks of overdose. The staff would also be able to refer clients to detox, treatment, counselling and primary health care.

This is an era of intense pressures on constrained health care resources. However, these resources are currently being wasted to respond to health problems such as overdose rather than preventing them with effective measures.

"How can we afford to pay for safe injection sites?" A better question might be, How can we afford not to?