Seeing as I'm terrible at keeping up the network thing, and I don't know where to begin with where my life has been at lately, let me instead post a report I wrote recently regarding the work I have been doing.

INSITE DEMANDS STATUS: a review of the Court Action to save Insite.
by Leah Martin

Nearing the end of its sixteen-month extension, Insite, North America’s only supervised injection site, is questioning whether or not they will have the renewed legal status they need in order to continue offering health services past December 31, 2007. The latest question being asked is, who’s jurisdiction is it? The recent court action launched by the Portland Hotel Community Services Society and two plaintiffs who are users of Insite’s services argue that it should not be in the hands of an untrustworthy Federal Government.

Though a substantial amount of scientific evidence reflecting the outcomes of Insite’s services has been provided to Health Minister Tony Clement, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, both parties remain resistant in making a clear decision. ‘What’s the hold up?’, people are asking. Failures to address this crucial matter regarding one of Vancouver’s most sensitive social issues, has raised votes of non-confidence across the board.


The court action, spearheaded by well-known human rights lawyer Joseph Arvay, served on August 17, 2007, argues two main points. The first point declares according to the Constitution Act, 1867, subsection 91 & 92 discusses the distribution of legislative powers to create laws and establish services based on provincial needs in the best interest of its citizens. Seeing as Insite is incorporated into, and supported by the provincial health system, Vancouver Coastal Health should be able to act as designates of the exemption for a medical/ scientific purpose for Insite to continue operating.

The second point furthers this claim by declaring under the Consitution Act, 1982, which includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, that if an individuals rights to life and security of the person are being infringed upon, and not in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice, the individual has a right to challenge this in the courts. If Insite closes, the government could potentially be putting many lives at risk. Insite’s services are complementary to other health clinics in the downtown area catering to people with addiction. Though a variety of services exist, still many users are not receiving the attention they need. At Insite, attention to wound care, and infection control can be managed, as well as access to counselors and referrals to other agencies can be made. Insite also teaches health and safety to users by providing clean supplies and information on practicing health conscious use while trying to manage their addiction.


Before this case was launched the main factor influencing the status of the injection site depended on the ability of an Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) appointed by Health Canada to grant six groups of researchers to conduct secondary analysis of the 24 studies already published. The researchers would be expected to do this in a meager three or four months. This secondary analysis would help Health Minister Clement decide if Insite “helped people get off drugs”. The research grants were allotted as of September 2007, and the deadline given is February 2008. This can almost guarantee users another two months extension while the conclusions are being assessed by Health Canada.

If Health Canada denies Insite the legal exemption they need to operate, this new court action will help give Insite the leverage they need to fight for their right to exist, as they can petition the courts to order Insite remain active until the matter is resolved. This case will proceed regardless of the activity of the EAC.

The main incentive behind this case is to get Stephen Harper to see the value behind harm reduction based services. Other objectives in the case address the value and respect of peer-reviewed research as a means in guiding policy making, as well as setting the precedent concerning provincial health matters needing federal approval, like creating a niche for harm reduction or the ability of each province to create services based on the needs of the population.


No ones health issue should become political game. This is why a small, organized group titled Insite for Community Safety, have been running a campaign geared towards educating the public and gathering public response on the topic of injection sites. There are 76 injection facilities in 8 different countries around the world, established as early as 1976. This is not a new idea, nor is it of questionable success. The science, no matter what language it comes in, provides the same answers. Injection sites are a positive solution.

From where I'm standind now, I can see how life's hurt, life's lessons, and life's passion can bring one fulll circle.

All I ever want in life is to be learning, and sharing. Really, if it doesn't seem like it, it's really that I'm just shy and sensitive...I know get over it already! That's what I've been telling myself for 26 years. I try to show every person respect and love I woiuld like to feel in return. At the beginning of last year I was brought to the realization that others, as displaying the same are merely manipulative. And it's quite heart wrenching. It was in this situation I first lost sense of my own individualism and purpose.

I'm not going to mention names, or events, because I'm not the type to stirr drama. around this time I began to struggle with my role in other projects and at work. Where I was feeling inadequate and unable to learn in one scenario, I would throw all my attention and energy into my work, without finding good ways ot ground out....because believe me, partying mindlessly is not a good way to ground out. Oh and I work full time at a safe injection site.

I starting experiencing physical symptoms that were unfamiliar to me. I would be walking some where and all of a sudden feel small, short of breath, tight in the chest, having trouble breathing, at times I felt I would faint. Most times it just made me want to cry because I was so scared. I found out later that I was experiencing anxiety. I took up smoking cigarettes again full time to help me breath, or what I thought was the case. I became obsessed with my thoughts....always in there, having trouble being present.

So as any over stressed over worked person feels, I applied for a stress leave to take the summer off, heal, recuperate. I was going to be perfect. Good things were aligning almost instantly. I was finally going to take time to get back to me, yoga, bike riding....it was time to leave the drinking and drugs aside. I was to volunteer at the Harm Reduction Conference..I was involved I felt good.

Little did I know what was really to come.