Harm Reduction: Safe Injection Sites

EthicsLab

Harm reduction programs like needle exchange programs or medically supervised injection sites aim to a) respond to the addiction health issues of those who are dependent on injection drugs, and b) respond to the broader public health impact of addiction on a community such as a high amount of drug overdose or the transmission of infectious disease through the sharing of infected needles. These harm reduction programs are having an impact, but some have questioned whether such programs inappropriately cooperate with drug abuse. Our two guests today will offer us insight into that question and the impactful experience of two such harm reduction programs at Providence Health Care in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Our guests in this episode include:

• Scott Harrison, Director for Urban Health, Indigenous Health, Substance Use, Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care at Providence Health Care
• Christopher DeBono, Vice President of Mission, People and Ethics also at Providence Health Care

This episode was recorded on January 23, 2020

Additional resources relating to or referenced in this episode:

• Assessing the Ethical Issues in “Safe Injection” Sites by Carol Bayley, and Fr. Charles Bouchard
• Catholic Ethicists on HIV/AIDS Prevention, by James Keenan
• Catholic Participation in Needle- and Syringe-Exchange Programs for Injection-Drug Users: An Ethical Analysis, by Daniel Sulmasy
• Safe Injection Sites: A Moral Reflection, by Steven Bozza and Jeffrey Berger