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'Interesting,' indeed

Adam Radwanski, May 2, 2008 at 7:06 PM EDT

Tony Clement is taking heat again for his increasingly indefensible antipathy toward Insite, this time for apparently discouraging research into the safe-injection facility even as he purported to want more of it.

This being a bit of a pet issue, I'm inclined to go off on Clement. But since others already have that covered, I'll move things along a bit with a curious side-story from the same International Journal of Drug Policy article that goes after Clement (not yet available online, as far as I can tell):

"It is also interesting that the national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), has funded several reviews of SIF [safe injection site] research. Interestingly, when the first two reviews ... suggested that SIF are likely a useful tool to reduce drug-related harm," the RCMP issues a press release in an effort to distance itself from the conclusions of those reviews. They subsequently funded a known anti-harm-reduction activist to prepare a third review. This review was recently placed on a website funded by the Drug Free America Foundation and operated by the Institute on Global Drug Policy. Neither of these organizations is a scientific body..."

I'm never entirely comfortable with police forces or their leaders wading uninvited into social policy debates. But attempting to manipulate those debates toward their preferred outcome in the manner the Journal alleges takes it to a whole other level, doesn't it?

  1. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Adam, you're genuinely surprised?
  2. Albin Forone from Canada writes: Either the Mounties 1) have sound scientific evidence that criminalization reduces drug addiction, or 2) more likely, realize as a practical reality that under a Harper Party government the road to budgetary satisfaction passes through ideological fantasy land. CD W, I hope your labour union has negotiated full coverage for the multiple HIV infected needle stab wounds you have received in your line of Wonderland duty.
  3. colin broughton from Edmonton, Canada writes: The RCMP is a rogue police force, just like their heros the FBI and DEA.

    It has been a long time since you could believe anything the RCMP says, which I think truly is a sorry state of affairs.

    When it comes to the issue of prohibition, the current federal government suppresses all rational thought in favor of their own false ideology. And that has certainly emboldened the empire builders at the top of the RCMP. Does anyone believe the RCMP gives a rats butt for the welfare of drug users??? In comparison, how much do you suppose the budget for the phoney War on Drugs might affect their opinions?

    Good governance ought to be based on reality and on outcome-based analysis. Instead, Canadian public policy is determined by chimpanzees with serious religious afflictions.
  4. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Why is anyone surprised by this? The CPC has ideological rather than practical objections to this type of measure. The RCMP is worried that the need for punishment might be reduced, along with the demand for those who mete it out. The taxpayer is funding RCMP "research" designed to maintain the demand for its services higher rather than lower.
  5. Open Mike from Canada writes: Hey, getting paid to persecute druggies has real policing beat a mile.
  6. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Hypocritical is the word here, first they fund studies, then the good results are shown, then they go the other route to protect their interests, policing and the war on drugs.
    It would seem that they are stepping a little bit of their realm of serving and protecting to one of influencing public opinion and government policy.
  7. True North from Canada writes: Tony Clement cannot be trusted.
  8. Alastair james Berry from Nanaimo BC CANADA, Canada writes: It would seem that the POLICE, the Justiciary,the Prison employee's union AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN OTTAWA, like the dope scene just as it is! Lots of UNACCOUNTABLE CASH floating around WAITING FOR SHAKEDOWNS by law enforcement authorities or to grease the palms of those who CAN LOOK THE OTHER WAY or steer investigations into DEAD ENDS where no information will be found even with a DILIGENT SEARCH Legalize theDRUG SCENE and lots of people WOULD BE OUT OF WORK. Legal Aid Lawyers, Prison guards,Police Drug squads,Customs agents and drug sniffing dogs and their handlers and all "THE PYRAMIDS" that build on them . Politicians would lose the Photo-Ops , getting RED IN THE FACE , Ranting about sinners, fornicators and DRUG ADDICTS!! I think it is morally wrong that an addict should have to pay extortionate prices for their drugs.......I can't price Heroin(it's illegal) but LEGAL MORPHINE is $0.35/ampoule in the OHIP formulary. Imagine the outcry if INSULIN was supplied down the same supply route and at the same price as heroin!! And YET LEGAL INSULIN HAS BLIGHTED THE HUMAN RACE, WITH THE DIABETIC GENES HAVING NOW SPREAD FAR AND WIDE IN THE WORLD'S POPULATION.......soon there will be almost 100% penetration! Kidney failure, blindness, gangrene, neuropathy, coma are all on the increase due to the treatment of diabetes with insulin!! Tuberculosis, AIDS, HEP B & C are spreading into the general population from the DRUG SCENE in a similar way. SAFE INJECTION SITES REDUCE THE RATE AND RISK OF THESE DISEASES SPREADING INTO THE GENERAL POPULATION! SAFE INJECTION sites are not very effective for getting addicts to quit, but that was never in their agenda......harm reduction IN THE GENERAL POPULATION was the main aim. ADDICTS tend to quit when "the game is not worth the candle'" around the age 40 - 50, I find. (however once an addict always an addict)
  9. Fake Name from Canada writes: " CD W from Canada writes: Dopers commit crimes to get drugs, the police should be keeping an eye on it. They belong in jail, get cured, then get out."

    Oh, and putting the users in jail has worked SOOO well at ending addictions over last fifty years that there's clearly no need or use for harm-reduction programs.
  10. Bert Russell Paradox, BC from Canada writes:
    If I were head of the RCMP I certainly wouldn't rely on research done by some on these so called research scientists - or the bleeding heart groups who have other agendas. Or articles by CTVGM tabloid journalists.
    There was a study done by an Evan Wood whose nose is out of joint because his so called expert opinion is questioned ... when he can't produce the facts to support his agenda.
    Vancouver it seems has more experts looking for problems than there are problems.
    For example: we are supporting drug addicts who have mental health issues, homelessness and a full spectrum of other health problems and who get their drugs by committing crimes. The addicts who attend these safe injection sites represent a small percentage of those addicted and without jobs etc. who are committing the crimes.
    A second step would appear to rehabilitate these addicts and establish a working program to recovery which would encourage others.
    Local Politicians do not appear to have the will to take the second step - I assume that is because the problem is to big and they wouldn't want other cities people coming to Vancouver with a hope of proper treatment. In my opinion by itself the safe injection site benefits a few with dismal recovery results.
    I heard one report that Vancouver City Police indicate some change in crime .....? since safe sites were installed. I would seriously question that as how many of these thefts, assaults by drug addicts are even reported to the Police and where are the actual statistics to back this up.
    Our VCP are doing some PR work by sending Criminals with outstanding Warrants from points east back home???? This solves our problem? What is going to happen when the cities back east start sending back our misfits and discards?
    I also don't believe we should make scapegoats out of our Police. The problem can only be solved with the will of Politicians - safe injection rehabilitation = results. Safe injection alone doesn't work.
  11. F H from Canada writes: GM, all your postings have done is show yourself to be deeply homophobic. That may not have been the intent, but it certainly was the end result.
  12. Vern McPherson from writes:
    Not a good idea to have police as a force, as an organization attempting to make public poicy. They become just another blatant political lobbying group but this time they are carrying guns and have very special powers over the rest of us. Remember what happened in Germany in the 30's when the police ......... well you know......

    Just like it's not a good idea having cops pick judges either.

    Dump the COns. They are a danger to democracy.........
  13. GlynnMhor of Skywall from Canada writes: Bert Russell Paradox, BC from Canada writes:" safe injection rehabilitation = results."

    But what results are those? Fewer addicts? Or just a better outcome for some addicts?

    The former could be lauded all round, while the latter benefits only that small handful of criminal scumbag addicts who plague Society so.
  14. Luke R from Toronto, Canada writes: The RCMP shouldn't be funding any studies. Setting crime policy is for the gov't not the police.
  15. Erik D. from Ottawa, Canada writes: Gee, makes sense, the RCMP needs someone to practice tasering on...
  16. Orest Zarowsky from Toronto, Canada writes: Prohibition of ethanol worked so very well. Didn't it? I mean, people stopped drinking, and the production of alcoholic beverages ceased completely. And there was no criminal activity related to the production, transport, distribution and sale of an illegal product. Nor did local criminal gangs become a national organization with tentacles reaching into all segments of society - especially the police and government. And there certainly wasn't a massive level of violence involved, with numerous innocent bystanders maimed and killed. And there certainly wasn't any home production of contaminated and/or deliberately adulterated product either, which went on to kill and maim many of the people who used it. Tragically, even a cursory review of the Prohibition era shows that all of these things were actually what went on. And did I mention the rise of the likes of J. Edgar Hoover and the rest of that ilk? So what is the difference between that failed experiment and today's "War on Drugs"? Oh yeah more misidentifications of innocent citizens as drug dealers. With lots of innocent people killed by police. Who are invariably exonerated afterwards. More critically, the amount of money spent by the government on rehab and treatment of addicts, is very low. Worse, the amount of money spent on prevention of addiction is low and frequently misspent. As for which drugs are the most popular and cause the most damage, that would be ethanol, with tranquilizers in a very close second. As for smoking, well that's a very interesting one. All those "premature" deaths sure are going to save the health care system scads of money when those people don't have to be treated for all the diseases and problems of old age. Not to mention all those spaces saved in the old age homes. As for treatment and "business" costs now, those are more than made up in the taxes raised on a every single pack of cigarettes sold. At least half of the price. Which all goes into "general revenues". From NET income.
  17. The Central Screwtinizer from Ottawa, Canada writes: Genetics researchers have confirmed that people with a different form of a certain gene are more susceptible to drug and alcohol addiction. The sooner we start treating addicts of alcohol or drugs like it was a medical desease caused by a different gene the sooner we can all get to the point of helping ourselves and focusing on the problem at hand. If someone you knew were suffering from diabedies would you bust him for doing insulin because they are using a needle and drug albeit insulin??? Just like we use morphine as a pain killer following an operation for example...needle and drug. Our first hurdle will be getting past 'stupid' people.
  18. Yogie Bear from The Forest, Canada writes: Sorry for going off topic but, I just wanted to ask Adam if there is any news of the Mulroney inquiry or is Harper intentionally delaying the start, hoping for an election?
  19. Williams vision vs Dions vision two Canadians for CANADA ! from Canada writes: ADAM: What is our government injecting ???? reform yea yea yea In total, $10.8 million is spent by all sectors - harvesting, processing and transportation - relating to the seal harvest. These expenditures represent benefits and increased economic activity in outport communities which gain employment opportunities and local business as suppliers ........... reform na na na $ 6 billion industry "The issue that concerns Canada’s film and television community is Section 120, which would allow the Heritage Minister (currently Josée Verner) to withdraw tax credits from productions determined to be “contrary to public policy.” reform secret secret secret Sale of 1 reactor = approx. $ 4 billion / g. lunn ? 2nd & 3rd reactor purchase required by Ont .Some industry observers estimate that a 49-per-cent stake in AECL could fetch up to $300 million, but an agreement is likely contingent on Ontario selecting CANDU's heavy-water technology either alone or in combination with the winning bidder's light-water reactor design. Light-water reactors, by far the most popular models in operation and used exclusively in the United States, use ordinary water and enriched uranium as fuel.'GE is very confident that this is a done deal' Source close to General Electric HOW MUCH FOR AN ONT. TO LABRADOR HYDRO POWER CORRIDOR ???
  20. Williams vision vs Dions vision two Canadians for CANADA ! from Canada writes:
    ADAM: What is our government injecting ???? reform yea yea yea In total, $10.8 million is spent by all sectors - harvesting, processing and transportation - relating to the seal harvest. These expenditures represent benefits and increased economic activity in outport communities which gain employment opportunities and local business as suppliers
  21. Williams vision vs Dions vision two Canadians for CANADA ! from Canada writes:
    ADAM: What is our government injecting ???? reform alliance
    reform na na na $ 6 billion industry "The issue that concerns Canada’s film and television community is Section 120, which would allow the Heritage Minister (currently Josée Verner) to withdraw tax credits from productions determined to be “contrary to public policy.”
  22. Williams vision vs Dions vision two Canadians for CANADA ! from Canada writes:
    ADAM: What is our government injecting ???? reform alliance

    reform secret secret secret Sale of 1 reactor = approx. $ 4 billion / g. lunn ? 2nd & 3rd reactor purchase required by Ont .Some industry observers estimate that a 49-per-cent stake in AECL could fetch up to $300 million, but an agreement is likely contingent on Ontario selecting CANDU's heavy-water technology either alone or in combination with the winning bidder's light-water reactor design. Light-water reactors, by far the most popular models in operation and used exclusively in the United States, use ordinary water and enriched uranium as fuel.'GE is very confident that this is a done deal' Source close to General Electric HOW MUCH FOR AN ONT. TO LABRADOR HYDRO POWER CORRIDOR ???
  23. Williams vision vs Dions vision two Canadians for CANADA ! from Canada writes:

    ADAM: What is our government injecting ???? Reform Alliance is for the little guys like sealers , hollywood and small businesses like GE ?
  24. Williams vision vs Dions vision two Canadians for CANADA ! from Canada writes:
    ADAM: What is our government injecting ???? reform alliance

    harper help little people Danny Williams & little peopleDalton Mcguinty with an inexpensive extension cord wire from Labrador to Ontario .

    The US Marines , Cisis and the top cop could be hired to guard the Power Corridor from terrorists ??

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