What's so "Safe" About an Injection Site???

On October 18th, many San Francisco city officials and organizations met to discuss the possibility of opening the United State's first Safe Injection Site. These sites, better known as Shoot Up Rooms or Injection Sites, already exist in Germany, Switzerland, and Canada and have proven to be beneficial despite initial opposition. Results of Injection Sites in these countries include: a reduction in the spread of AIDS and Hepatitis C, reduction of disturbances (i.e. drug dealing, injecting in public, and people high in public), reduction of [fatal] overdoses, and finally, in increase in the access of health and welfare services (rehab). In these rooms are nurses to provide medical assistance should someone overdose. The nurses also provide tips on injection, vein care, and equipment such as needles, tourniquets, cookers, sterile water, and spoons. Requirements for using the rooms include: being at least 18 years of age, having a valid ID, approval to use rooms by supervisors of the injection site, signing a liability release form, and finally, you may not use injection site if it is your first time injecting drugs.


Although these rooms have proven to be beneficial in other countries, there was much opposition in its early stages. There has also been much opposition in the United States, more so than in any other country. Many people see approving these rooms as giving up on the evasive "War On Drugs". Some oppose it for moral reasons or because they foresee many legalities arising. Others oppose the idea simply because they feel as though the burden of funding these rooms would fall on the taxpayer.


While there are many who disapprove of the rooms, there is still a large amount of people who can't help but see the benefits of them. Along with the outcomes mentioned above, these rooms also help to improve the community. Switzerland seems to have shown the most improvement: the number of crimes committed by those using the Shoot Up Rooms dropped by 60% in six months, the amount of people with permanent employment doubled, and a cleaned up Kochar Park in Bern and "Needle Park" in Zürich -- two major sites of addicts congregating.

There have also been stories of success with Shoot Up Rooms in Vancouver, Canada, where many legal issues arose due to several Canadian laws. However the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, appears to not be very happy because despite success stories, many legal issues are arising because he funds the rooms. But the Shoot Up Room in Canada is fairing almost as well as the ones in Switzerland; there has been a reduction in the spread of AIDS, hepatitis, and other blood borne viruses, and an increase in the number of people getting help for their addiction or giving up on drugs completely.


Even if these rooms are approved in the United States, it will be while before it appears. When in first heard about the Injection Sites I was very skeptical and believed that the San Franciscan local government must be out of their minds for even considering such a concept. It went against my morals and I couldn't understand why they would even agree to hold a symposium discussing Shoot Up Rooms. But the more I researched Injection Sites and saw all the good they have done in their countries the more I thought the US should consider opening them. Maybe it's time to give up on the "War on Drugs" and face the truth. It's time to acknowledge that fighting against people with an addiction is not the solution. We need to focus all of our energy on helping them; and only then can the positive outcomes occur.