Safe-Injection Site: Muzzling and Misrepresentation of Research Findings

Twenty two peer-reviewed papers have been published on Vancouver's Safe Injection Site demonstrating a positive benefit to users, such as reduced rates of transmission of HIV-AIDS. According to the Globe and Mail May 2, 2008 article,("Scientists Accuse Tories of 'Despicable' Interference") 'The federal government committed a 'serious breach of international scientific standards' in its handling of Vancouver's safe injection site, according to a new study. An article published in the International Journal of Drug Policy charges that the Conservative government interfered in the work of independent scientific bodies, attempted to muzzle scientists and deliberately misrepresented research findings because it is ideologically opposed to harm-reduction programs."

The article states, "In 2003, the Liberal federal government approved North America's first safe injection facility, allowing public health officials to provide sterile needles and emergency medical care to intravenous drug users. The facility, called Insite, was granted an exemption from Canada's drug laws on the condition that the pilot project be subjected to rigorous scientific evaluation. An independent scientific review led Health Canada in the spring of 2006 to recommend that funding for the project be extended and that similar programs be tried in other cities. But federal Health Minister Tony Clement intervened, saying there were too many unanswered questions and placed a moratorium on this type of research. The journal article says that was done at the behest of police organizations and based on political concerns, not sound public health policy. Rita Smith, a spokeswoman for Mr. Clement, told The Globe and Mail yesterday this claim is 'completely inaccurate.' 'Minister Clement put no moratorium on research - he actually commissioned more research,' she said, adding Mr. Clement had Health Canada form an independent committee to produce a report on all domestic and international research surrounding supervised injection sites."

The article adds, "The Vancouver project continues because it was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which operates at arm's length from government. Ottawa subsequently offered money for additional research, but with the proviso that investigators refrain from disseminating their findings until after the exemption for the safe injection site expires. Dr. Wood said this amounts to 'muzzling researchers.' The University of British Columbia deemed that condition ethically unacceptable and so its researchers did not apply for the grants. The legal exemption for Insite expires at the end of June and operators of the facility are currently in B.C. Supreme Court trying to force the government to extend it."