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In Abbotsford, British Columbia,
health officials are asking for a review of a 2005 zoning bylaw effectively
banning all forms of harm-reduction, including needle-exchanges and safe-injection
sites, in the city.
The Fraser Health Authority recently
pointed to statistics showing that Abbotsford has some of the province’s
highest rates of overdoses as well as HIV and hepatitis C. The FHA proposal to
the city council asks for a needle-exchange program phased in over several
years, beginning with distribution through community organizations and
eventually introducing mobile and fixed-site services. FHA also is
investigating whether the city can legally enforce a bylaw that restricts a health
care service.
Support still exists for the
controversial bylaw. City Councilor Simon Gibson supported it in 2005 and still
does today. “They [harm-reduction advocates] may be putting the interests of
the addicts over and above the interests of our community. Our citizens want to
see addicts turn their lives around and contribute to society, but I believe
that our citizens don’t want to see that rehabilitation done at the expense of
the social fabric of our community.”
Mayor Bruce Banman said the city
council remains deeply divided on the issue, although he personally believes
the bylaw should be repealed. “If you can prevent one case of AIDS and a couple
of cases of hepatitis C, it would most likely pay for the entire
needle-exchange program, so, financially, to me it just makes sense,” he said.
However, he said his support is contingent on FHA promising to increase
detoxification services in the community, which is not part of the current
proposal.
FHA said it is open to expanding
detoxification services for Abbotsford. Currently, it provides mobile, in-home
services, and Abbotsford residents who need treatment are referred to a
facility in nearby Surrey.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
