Safe Injection Rooms for Intravenous Drug Users in the Downtown Eastside: An Investigation and Policy Framework for Decision-Makers

Policy analysis on the possible establishment and maintenance of safe injection rooms in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Interviews were conducted with community organizations and stakeholders working in the area of drug addiction. Community objectives for safe injection rooms included enhancing the social environment of the DTES; maximizing community health; maximizing community safety; ensuring economic viability in the DTES; and minimizing costs to the public. Stakeholders preferred a Community-Driven Model for a safe injection room program. This model, and its alternatives, are discussed, in terms of how they could be implemented in the DTES environment. A copy of the interview questions used with stakeholders, and a breakdown of each stakeholder's responses, is included with the document.