INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE AND CONSERVATIVE VALUES

Insite, Vancouver's supervised drug injection site, has a date with
the Supreme Court of Canada.

In January, the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the federal
government's latest attempt to close the clinic, arguing that Insite's
operations fall under provincial rather than federal
jurisdiction.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson responded last week by announcing that
Ottawa would appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Many of Insite's supporters regard the federal government's appeal as
strictly ideological, in keeping with the party's conservative
principles of being "tough on crime" and "tough on drugs."

But when we examine the party's founding principles, Insite's
operation would appear to be ideologically conservative. So much so
that the Conservative government should be supporting it rather than
trying to shut it down.

Take the principle of balancing fiscal accountability, progressive
social policy and individual rights and responsibilities.

Studies have found that Insite saves money. In a cost-benefit analysis
over a 10-year period, it was found that a net $18 million could be
saved.

Similarly, more than $6 million could be saved each year just by
averting HIV-related medical costs.

Together, these savings are more than enough to offset Insite's $3
million per year operating costs. Support for Insite, therefore, is
the only fiscally responsible position for Conservatives.

Accountability is another conservative principle, and Prime Minister
Stephen Harper has been quoted as saying, "we as a government will not
fund drug use."

Well, Prime Minister, please visit Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on
"Welfare Wednesday." Residents are rich with drugs and the waiting
list to get into Insite can reach an hour. Where did their money come
from? Your government's tax money, that's where, in the form of
welfare payments. Acknowledge that your government is funding drug
use; that is accountability.

The Conservatives also claim to believe in the equality of all
Canadians, but there is inequality in care among Canadians suffering
from addiction.

Consider alcoholism. When individuals suffer from this addiction, it
is regarded as a medical condition, even to the extent that it "runs
in the family." The "addicts" are viewed as patients, referred to
treatment centres and given counselling -- all in the name of "health
care."

For individuals who drink too much, we as a society have also
implemented a number of harm-reduction programs, such as designated
drivers and increased public transit hours. One significant
harm-reduction strategy is the training of bar staff to serve alcohol
responsibly. By monitoring their patrons' consumption and behaviour,
bar staff are able to determine when someone should be cut off.

These practices are in place to reduce harms, both to the individual
and to others (e.g. driving while impaired). To further reduce harms,
bar staff also offer advice or provide safe equipment. They suggest
that patrons stagger their drinks over time, or provide shatterproof
glasses to prevent injury.

Yet this also is what nurses do at Insite. They offer advice on safe
injection practices and provide equipment to prevent the harms of
infection and overdose. If all addictions are medical conditions,
should we not be treating them the same? Why are individuals suffering
from illicit drug addiction exempt from harm-reduction strategies?

The Conservatives emphasize that individuals have a responsibility to
provide for themselves, their families and their dependants, while
also recognizing that government must respond to those who require
assistance and compassion.

Addiction is an illness. As with any other illness, it is affected by
uncontrollable factors and personal predispositions. It can be treated
with a combination of therapies and treatments. Canadians suffering
from addiction, therefore, deserve the same government assistance and
compassion as any other health condition.

The federal government's opposition to Insite is not truly
"conservative," but reactionary.

The war on drugs has proven to be both futile and fiscally wasteful.
In 2010, the U.S. government spent more than $15 billion on it. Yet
arrests for drug law violations this year are expected to exceed the
1,663,582 arrests of 2009.

Clinging to ineffectual ideas only perpetuates conditions that sustain
the status quo for marginalized people.

The Conservative party must acknowledge this. It also should be more
open to practices that sustain the individual rights highlighted in
the party's founding principles. The concept of harm reduction as
practised at Insite does just that.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has already concluded that
access to Insite's health services is a Charter right to the "security
of the person."

As a socially progressive service that preserves the rights of
Canadians, Insite is a fine expression of the Conservative party's
founding principles.

Sandra Cortina is a student nurse who works at the Insite clinic in
Vancouver.