Evan Wood ^1*, Thomas Kerr ¹, Zhenguo Qui ¹, Ruth Zhang ², Julio S.G. Montaner ¹, Mark W. Tyndall ¹

¹ University of British Columbia
² Univeristy of British Columbia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ewood{at}cfenet.ubc.ca.

	Abstract

In 2003, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, opened North America's first government-sanctioned safer injecting facility, where injection drug users (IDUs) can inject preobtained illicit drugs under the supervision of nurses. Use of the service by IDUs was followed by measurable reductions in public drug use and syringe sharing. IDUs who are frequently using the program tend to be high-intensity cocaine and heroin injectors and homeless individuals.

The facility has provided high-risk IDUs a hygienic space where syringe sharing can be eliminated and the risk of fatal overdose reduced. Ongoing evaluation will be required to assess its impact on overdose rates and HIV infection levels, as well as its ability to improve IDU contact with medical care and addiction treatment

Key Words: Access to Care, HIV/AIDS, Homelessness, Human Rights, Hepatitis, Drugs

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Beletsky, C. S. Davis, E. Anderson, and S. Burris The Law (and Politics) of Safe Injection Facilities in the United States Am J Public Health, February 1, 2008; 98(2): 231 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Wood, M. W. Tyndall, J. S. Montaner, and T. Kerr Summary of findings from the evaluation of a pilot medically supervised safer injecting facility. Can. Med. Assoc. J., November 21, 2006; 175(11): 1399 - 1404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]