Victoria drug addiction intervention takes 'backward step'

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by Change | 4 Mar 2010

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More needs to be done to increase drug addiction intervention in Victoria, British Columbia, a nursing professor has urged.

drug addiction help in Victoria, British Columbia has "lost ground" despite having a long term goal.

This is according to Bernie Pauly, assistant nursing professor and research fellow at the University of Victoria's Centre for Addictions Research, who believes that good intentions have failed to deliver, the Times Colonist reports.

She told the newspaper that the city was "poised for change" in 2002 and that by 2004 Victoria had the four key harm reduction measures in place - prevention, treatment, housing and enforcement.

Now, however, plans have taken a backward step. This is partly because of the closure of Cormorant Street's fixed needle exchange in May 2008, with plans for a new facility scrapped last November.

"We've had policy and we've had vision, but we're not acting on it," Dr Pauly told the newspaper.

She also said that the need for drug addiction intervention has increased now that more addicts have started using needles again.

According to her research, drug use has intensified following the closure of the exchange, while addicts who want to stop are finding it difficult to return their used needles.

Dr Pauly specialises in harm reduction and addiction in addition to homelessness, health inequities and health policy ethics.

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