drug overdoses welcomed

[manioca]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040924.wxneedles0924/BNStory/National/



'Safe' overdoses show gallery's success: backers 'Safe' overdoses show gallery's success: backers

Vancouver — In the sterilized cubicles of North America's only legal shooting gallery, more than 100 drug overdoses occurred over a six-month period, proof, say its supporters, that it's a resounding public health success story. None of the 107 overdoses resulted in death....

This disturbs me:
"Researchers hired to assess the clinic's impact over a three-year period say the high number of overdoses at the supervised injection site is good news and shows it has saved lives" and

"Don McPherson, the co-ordinator of Vancouver's drug policy, said he too was buoyed by the high overdose numbers and hoped to see it increase."

umm, shouldn't a place like, which is supposedly a 'safe' place for drug addicts, be trying to reduce 'overdoses'?

[Kreeli]

the site doesn't provide the drugs, just the works and medical support if required. i am certain that if heroin were decriminalized these people would never overdose at all inside the clinic because users would know exactly what they were injecting. they can't control the drugs being brought in off the street, which can be much more potent than the users expect them to be - hence why they OD. at the very least they have access to immediate medical intervention. that is better, in my opinion, than them using dirty works and ODing in back alleys where they can die for lack of medical help.

[kristadb]

Also, isn't there a better chance of getting some of these people into rehab if they've begun to establish a trusting relationship with some of the staff?

[manioca]

I'm not disturbed by the fact that this facility exists because, yes, they could help get people in rehab, reduce disease, etc. I'm disturbed because they want to see more "overdoses." I thought that this kind of facility would try to help the drug addicts get enough of their fix in a safe manner, but why would they be happy that they are "overdosing"? Sure, maybe they can't control that by not knowing the potency of the drug, but why are they saying that they want to see more overdosing?
perhaps it was just bad wording by the reporter.

[Kreeli]

i think it was written with a kind of "spin". of course it would be better if no addict ever overdosed. but until street drugs are somehow regulated, there will be ODs. where/when/how they happen determines exactly how many people might live to see the day when they kick their addiction.

[Breathe]

as long as they are overdosing in a safe place where they can get help and wont be raped or beaten or murdered when they are messed up.

[salamander]

wow that is so weird. I guess they know what they're talking about...

[MsRuthieB]

People OD also because the rush of the hit is very addictive....sometimes moreso than the high itself. They're always looking for that first shot rush and after you've had the first shot, all the others feel weaker in intensity so the temptation creeps in to add just a little more to get a better rush.