It is the position of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine that the establishment of supervised injection sites represents a significant harm reduction strategy especially aimed towards those injection drug users who are not well connected to health care services. Such individuals likely suffer from significant and untreated concomitant physical and mental health disorders and have engaged in other strategies designed to treat their substance dependence that have not succeeded.
An abundance of evidence can be found to support the position above. Over two dozen papers published in top rated peer-reviewed scientific journals have concluded that supervised injection facilities have an overall positive impact in the communities in which they are situated. Most importantly, a reduction in drug seeking behaviors that increase the risk of death from overdose as compared with illicit use of the drug has been shown. Less injecting in public was also seen as well as no increase in drug related crime or overall injection drug use rates amongst the drug using population. Improvements across a number of treatment outcomes showed a decreased risk for infectious disease such as HIV, Hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections. This was partially realized as an improved use of condoms amongst the treated population, better access to care involving other physical and mental health concerns and enhanced collaboration between police and health care providers. Other positive measures revealed no decrease in employability amongst those using such facilities as well as safer injection practices.
Supervised Injection Facilities represent an innovative and effective treatment strategy for those substance dependent individuals using illicit intravenous drugs and who have engaged in other health care initiatives designed to minimize the harms resulting from untreated addiction that have not been successful. The Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine remains committed to providing expert direction for those seeking to better inform themselves on the matter. To be clear, it is the position of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine to support the establishment of supervised injection sites in an effort to reduce harm and serve as a potential gateway for the most marginalized of the intravenous drug using population to enter into treatment in appropriate urban locations.
Adopted July 2009