title: A description of a peer-run supervised injection site for injection drug users.
abstract: Owing to the ongoing health crisis among injection drug users in Vancouver, Canada, there have been repeated calls for the establishment of supervised injection sites (SIS) since the early 1990s. In April 2003, a group of advocates and drug users opened an unsanctioned SIS in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The "327 SIS" operated for 184 days. During the operation of the SIS, volunteers supervised over 3,000 injections by a high-risk injection drug using population. The SIS provided a sterile environment for injection drug use without measured negative consequences and demonstrated the feasibility of a peer-driven low-threshold SIS.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada. V6Z 1Y6 +Kerr@cfenet.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oleson
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Tyndall
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D016495:Police; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs