Shooting Up Legally

dfleet
In Vancouver, Canada's Downtown Eastside, drug use and drug-related overdoses are nothing short of an epidemic. Insite is a safe-injection site; a place where addicts can legally inject heroin and other drugs with clean needles and under the supervision of doctors. Despite the fact that Insite is significantly reducing the number of overdoses in the area and preventing the spread of disease, the city is debating the ethics of allowing and even facilitating the use of illegal substances.
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29 comments // Shooting Up Legally // Video

  • bulespider12
  • ariellejazmin4
    • 0
      ariellejazmin4  
    • I think that this is a good thing. Clean needles means clean people. The help is there if they want it. And they will be cared for. I think this is a positive thing to be doing and there should be more of these kinds of things happening throughout the world.

    • 2 years ago
  • medugorjepeter
  • stevieuk
    • 0
      stevieuk  
    • Can understand why people would have some concerns however when you look at the big picture i would say that some folk from east end of glasgow could use something like this to help deal with the drug problem HOWEVER it is defo not the answer

    • 2 years ago
  • Khidrock
    • 0
      Khidrock  
    • These people are addicts, addicted, run by, sick with. Addiction is an illness. I'm sure if they could just stop, they would. Drug addicts cannot stop, that is why drug addiction is so sad, any addiction for that matter. You can't just say you could use your money better, just stop doing drugs and get a job, its just not that easy. This facility is like giving condoms to high school kids. They are going to have sex, so make it safe!

    • 2 years ago
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  
    • Khidrock:

      THEY CAN STOP, THEY AREN'T GOING TO NOW! WHY SHOULD THEY, WHEN THEY CAN KEEP GETTING FREE THIS AND FREE THAT???? They need treatment, not clean needle's, believe me, don't waste another penny on this project, it's enabling addicts, to use longer, live longer to use, and I should know! I am a former addict, the more you do, the more your enabling them to use! DEMAND MANDATORY TREATMENT AFTERWARD'S THEN YOU CAN REALLY HELP THEM!!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  
    • I don't think this idea is so good, it just enables them to use freely? They should die, if they don't quit, otherwise more addicts are going to start up? I am an ex-addict myself for the past 25 years on Heroin. I know it just helps addicts and they will stay addicts longer because of this free place to use drugs. I think it's kinda ridicoulous if you ask me????

    • 2 years ago
  • ArmyJuggalo
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  
    • I am very sorry to hear that your health situation, SIJ. That is a heavy, heavy load to carry. I have never "shot up," but I have chronic rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, anemia, sleep apnea, ocpd, and frequent ulcers -- so I can at least relate to the difficulty of carving a life out of feeling crappy most of the time (and sometimes ALL of the time for days in a row. A sense of humor about myself and the world, coupled with a great deal of patience have long been my sword and shield. People who have never really suffered ill health seldom understand what it does to your life. But then, maybe that is what WE are here for...peace.

    • 3 years ago
  • sickinjersey
  • sickinjersey
    • 0
      sickinjersey  
    • What is with all of these so called addicts, that think they have it all figured out? I am an addict also.I have been clean for many years. I also have hiv and hep c, and hep b.I see sick addicts all of the time.by sick I mean carrying deadly viruses. Do you think that all of those addicts are tuff like you people?Do you think they are all honest? Do you think that our schools and government do enough to teach our young children what to avoid and how to protect themselves in a situation that might expose them to a health risk?Wake up. As long as diseases such as addiction are around , diseases like aids and hep c will always be invited along for the ride.

    • 3 years ago
  • juxzta1
    • 0
      juxzta1  
    • From an addicts standpoint this is going too far. Its sick. Needle exchange is one thing but this is just enabling people to stay sick. Do not make it comfy and safe for these addicts. You cannot save everyone. There will be casualties.

    • 3 years ago
  • sickinjersey
    • 0
      sickinjersey  
    • juxzta1:

      we are talking about insulating the rest of the population from disease genius. this is not a moral issue. if you been there you know. or maybe you only used clean new syringes and never had high risk behavior with an unsuspecting loved one. Go to another meeting and find a new sponsor.

    • 3 years ago
  • shotgnner870
    • 0
      shotgnner870  
    • I'm sorry folks, But i have beat a hard-corp opoid addiction caused when was injured in the Corps,
      I went down a long hard road untill i decided this shit
      was not as strong as ME & MY USMC CREED!!! I wasted
      years of my life & thousands upon thousands of dollars, I was a functioning addict..As much as one can be. I was from a very respectable family, Had served my country well in the U.S.M.C., People who cared for me
      the whole thing basically! But i had a monkey on my back
      & that damn monkey wore a tuxedo & ate caviar! So much money & life wasted..The bottom line is these people in this film do not want to become functioning citizens, They want to suck the government tit & if some idiot liberals are stupid enough to encourage their negative behaviour& SUPPLY THEM WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS they will ride this pony to the dirt! Counseling available my ass! They don't want to hear your counselors, They want the free, clean rigs & facilities to 'fix' unhindered by Police,Cool in the summer
      and warm in the winter, Making it more enjoyable is what this is accomplishing.
      This what you misguided folks provide them! They get high & see ya' till the next round. Just another huge waste of funds.
      Take the money being wasted on this & help people
      who are getting layed-off & fired daily because of obamas "restructuring". These addicts will draw a government check untill they O'D or livers quit,etc,etc,
      You CANNOT help those unwilling to accept help or
      change their lifes!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • sickinjersey
  • shotgnner870
    • 0
      shotgnner870  
    • shotgnner870:

      You bet it is when you look at the cold ,hard, FACTS!
      They will comtinue untill dead, Especially when ASSISTED!!! Realistically, AS the lady states ..We have to keep them alive.. So they can become contributing
      members of society....I bet you none of these people
      interviwed even want to quit! RESPECT! They do not respect themselves or anyone else!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  
    • shotgnner870:

      Exactly RIGHT!!!I am a former addict also. They don't need clean needle's, they need inpatient Treatment! No Excuses, they are wasting money on these addicts. If they die, then they should have quit? They are enabling them to use longer and longer, they aren't helping them in any way!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, UNLESS THEY ARE IN A TREATMENT PROGRAM AND THEY ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO STOP USING!!!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • trelk
    • 0
      trelk  
    • they need to hire some vigilante doctors who perform a little slight of hand so these people inject a full dose of ibogaine into the hurt bodies. woops! my bad...go hang out in the chill out room. here's a bag for your vomit : )

    • 3 years ago
  • sickinjersey
  • coolbamf
    • 0
      coolbamf  
    • Addiction doesn't respond to logic. Watching a friend die, getting a disease, and almost OD doesn't make someone quit. It's for the sake of all of us we hand out things that will prevent the spread of disease... Giving out condoms doesn't make people have sex, same thing works for needles.

    • 3 years ago
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  
    • ...and of course the monster in the middle of the room that nobody talks about on this clip is that Hep C and the other communicable diseases spread by dirty needle use find their way into the general population from these addicts. People don't like to admit that little Johnny or little Suzie sometimes head downtown after a day in high school or college for a little walk on the wild side...and come home with more than a new tattoo.

      Believe it or not many of these people also engage in unprotected sex...with partners who also sometimes wander in and out of the downtown area and engage in unprotected sex with others...

      Bottom line, this is not at ALL just about the health of the junkies.

      And maybe I am just naive, but I am hard-pressed to be the one who sits in judgment of the value of each day of that junkies' life while the "inevitable" is delayed. Yes, that lifestyle creates feelings of horror in ME...

    • 3 years ago
  • wirehedd
    • 0
      wirehedd  
    • The thing that seems to be escaping the so many peoples' understanding is that the centre is primarily a means to keep people from contracting HIV, Hep C and other IV contagions so common in the IV drug user community. Quitting is a noble hope for all addicts but quitting because you're dead isn't really quitting is it?

      There is counciling available at the centre to help with kicking but for those who aren't willing or able to quit they can at least get some solace in that the chances of them getting a fatal illness from a dirty rig is greatly reduced. It's harm reduction plain and simple.

    • 3 years ago
  • shotgnner870
  • RyanM4
    • 0
      RyanM4  
    • As nice as it is to give someone a safe place to inject these drugs it is still helping them kill themselves, just slower. These types of places should only be used in a controlled environment for recovering addicts. It still encourages the behavior. It's a nice concept though. I'm sure something to make it more effective in helping addicts in the long run will come about sooner or later.

    • 3 years ago
  • shotgnner870
    • 0
      shotgnner870  
    • This is doing nothing but rewarding negative traits & behaviour! They could spend their money in much more productive ways, A junkie or addict of any kind IS NOT going to stop untill they actually decide they want a life as a functioning member of the human race! It makes no difference if it is cocaine, opoids, or alcohol, When they
      hit rock bottom enough & it is eitheir become a member
      of society or a parasite, Then they have a decision, I have known & worked with enough junkies to know that
      this program is only prolonging the inevitable.....DEATH! or BEATING the 'drug of your choice' I'm sure taxpayers fund this bullshit, IT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BUT ENCOURAGE & PROLONG THE DAILY AGONY THEY CALL 'A LIFE' If you are going to throw money in a hole, Give them Mehadone
      daily, Anything but this!!!!!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • derk
    • 0
      derk  
    • Death and disease are declining so it's time to pull the plug on the program? Great now Canada is turning into the US ...

    • 3 years ago
  • trackosaurasrex
    • 0
      trackosaurasrex  
    • i think if one of the drug addcts saw their friend o.d. they would be scared into trying to get clean. Thats sounds like it would be more effective than keeping these addicts alive just to die another day.

    • 3 years ago
  • Debrinconcita
    • 0
      Debrinconcita  
    • trackosaurasrex:

      ARE YOU SERIOUS, THEY HAVE ALL SEEN THEIR FRIEND'S OD, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY WON'T QUIT, ON THIS ALONE.???I have used drugs for the past 25-30yrs. We have all seen friends, relatives and other's die in front of us. It never stop's a drug addict! Maybe 2-3%. May quit afterwards.? I never quit when I knew someone I knew died the same day? It's an addiction, you cannot just quit like that. Your body needs the drugs and if not, you get deathly ill!

    • 2 years ago
  • wirehedd
    • 0
      wirehedd  
    • working with people who are injection dependent users will teach anyone that places like Insite are not only beneficial but are vital to saving lives.

    • 3 years ago
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