SAFE-INJECTION SITE CALLED A SUCCESS

[Cure20]

Two years after the experimental safe-injection site opened in Vancouver, police and health officials are declaring the so-called shooting gallery a success.

"It's been looked at very critically," said Dr. Perry Kendall, the provincial health officer. "On all the measures that we've looked at, we've seen some measures of success."

In the second year, more than 600 people a day used the site to safely inject their drugs, and there were almost 200 overdose interventions.

"We didn't stop overdoses -- there were hundreds of overdoses inside the site. But none of them resulted in a fatality," Kendall said.

Kendall said there were also measured reductions in shooting up around the site and fewer discarded needles and drug equipment.

Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning said an increased police presence and the safe-injection site have made the area safer for residents.