LITTLE CHANGE FROM SAFE INJECTION

The Safe Injection Site isn't getting more users coming through its
doors, despite a crackdown on open drug use.

Vancouver police began the initiative, which involves charging people
for shooting up in the open, in hopes of pushing drug users towards
the site.

"We've seen no change at all (at the site)," said Clay Adams of
Vancouver Coastal Health. "Activity continues to be the same."

Police hailed their initiative as a success after the first week,
saying although no one was charged, there was a marked decline in the
number of addicts using drugs in the open.

Adams believes that users may have simply moved to other areas or that
complaints police based the initiative on may have been false.

"The perception of the problem may have been overstated and worse than
the reality in the first place," he concluded.

Adams said the safe-injection site has benefited from police
involvement.

"From day one they've been steering people towards the site,' he said.
"I'm not sure what more they can do. Their job is to enforce the law
and educate people."