Legislation ignores benefits of safe injection sites, say doctors

A leading infection-control expert is urging public health officials to speak out about the benefits of safe injection sites instead of staying silent about new federal legislation that will make it harder for communities across Canada to establish new locations.

“There’s been a lack of leadership across the board, not just from the federal government,” says Dr. Mark Tyndall, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Ottawa Hospital in Ontario.

“Even local health boards and public health people have not really been vocal in this area. Everybody has just been quite quiet about it, despite overwhelming evidence that this is necessary and that places like Ottawa would greatly benefit from a site like this,” says the University of Ottawa professor.

Laura Eggertson
CMAJ
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