Teaching Resource Compiled by Josephine Savarese,

St. Thomas University

Did you know…

That Vancouver is home to North America’s first legal supervised injection site?

Established in September 2003.

The Vancouver SiS

Operates under an exemption granted by Health CanadaSection 56 of the Controlled Drugs and

Substances Act

the SiS is necessary for:a medical and scientific purposeand is in the public interest

A Personal Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV2TqBFNTac&feature=related

Overview: Connections to Criminal Justice

What is a safe injection site?Where do they operate? Why?How?

What international human rights laws are relevant to the safe injection site?

Background

What is a supervised injection site?

A health setting monitored by professionals where: ○ Drug users (who supply their own drugs) inject

under supervision○ Receive health care, counseling and referrals

Why were the sites established?

The Scope of the Problem - Vancouver 1.3 million residents:

About 12,000 were intravenous drug users.

 Nearly 40 percent of drug users had HIV or

AIDS.

 90 percent had Hepatitis C.

2,000 people had died from drug overdoses since 1993.

2003 Vancouver figures – BC Health

Costs to the Health System Each HIV case costs between $150,000

and $225,000

Ambulance costs

Evaluation of SiS’s: Vancouver: One Year Evaluation - 2004 Served over 3000 clients Averages ~ 600 injections per day Heroin and other opiates most common Clients rate the staff highly Site is “well managed” Over 100 interventions in drug

overdoses ~ 300 referrals to treatment and

withdrawal management services

The World

Reports are positive reduce injection-related risks and harms,

including vein damage, overdose and transmission of disease

They are successful in reducing public order problems associated with illicit drug use, including improper syringe disposal and public drug use

Video prepared by: Insite/Vancouver Coastal Health

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQpRMJacTiQ

Global Context

There are 27 supervised injections sites in the world

In cities including:GenevaZurichFrankfurt and Sydney (Australia)

SI/Sites and International Law International Law

Key concepts SovereigntyTreaties

SiS - Relevant International LawsHuman Rights Obligations

World Health Organization – Constitution

The enjoyment of the highest standard of health is one of the fundamental rights or every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or

social condition.

Human Rights Obligations Con’tThe Universal Declaration on Human

Rights – Article 25

“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being, including medical care and

necessary social services.”

Human Rights Obligations Con’tInternational Covenant on Economic,

Social and Civil Rights - Article 12

State parties recognize . . . “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the

highest standard of physical and mental health.”

Drug Control Treaties

3 treaties – Canada is a party:

Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961 - amended by 1972 Protocol)

Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)

United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988).

Emphasis law enforcement and criminalization

Harm reduction approaches correspond with the goals of treatment, education, rehabilitation and re-integration, also in the treaties

The Swiss Institute of Comparative Law (2000)

The Issue in International LawInternational Narcotics Control Board

(INCB)

• Created 1961 (under the SCND)• 13-member independent board • Monitors the implementation of drug control

treaties• Connected to the United Nations

Commission on Narcotic Drugs• Prepares annual report

2004 Report: Cited the Vancouver SiS

It "violate[s] the provisions of the international drug control conventions."

Recommended closure of the safe injection site

Class Discussion

Imagine yourself:

As a team of international law experts and policy advisors to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

The VCHA want to respond to the INCB’s criticisms.

!

In small groups:

The team has convened behind closed doors to review the information

Consider:

1. What are the strongest arguments for safe injection sites?

Groups Con’t

2. Compare and contrast the human rights approach with the drug control philosophy.

Conclusions

Recommendations:• How would you challenge the arguments

that the supervised injection site be closed?

• What research can you find? • If there were one voice in the room,

what would it be saying?

Please check out:www.thisisus.ca

drug use reality project