Saskatoon, Regina divided on safe injection site: Mainstreet, Postmedia poll

Saskatoon and Regina are nearly cut down the middle when it comes to opinion on supervised injection sites, according to a Mainstreet poll commissioned by Postmedia. 

The poll was conducted during the first week of January and asked a random sample of 600 Saskatoon residents and 628 Reginans.

It found that 41 per cent of people surveyed opposed a supervised injection site and 38 per cent were in favour in Saskatoon. The remaining 21 per cent were unsure.

In Regina, 41 per cent of people were against the idea while 39 per cent were in favour, up one per cent from Saskatoon. The last 20 per cent of those surveyed were unsure. 

For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of the size used in this poll would yield a margin of error of plus or minus four points, 19 times of 20.

HIV, Hepatitis C concerns in Sask.

Dr. Ryan Meili said while supervised injection sites have had success in other parts of Canada and the world, the jury is still out when it comes to it fitting in Saskatoon. Still, he said, the idea is worth exploring. 

The sites have resulted in lower deaths by overdose and fewer new cases of HIV and Hepatitis C, he said. 

"We have — whether people like it or not and I certainly don't — high rates of [intravenous] drug use and we have high rates, as a result, of Hepatitis C and HIV," Meili said. "We need to be leaving no stone unturned and try to figure out how to stem the tide of that growing problem."

The rates of HIV transmission via intravenous drug use are higher in Saskatchewan than in other parts of the country, Meili said.

The sites will also give people a place to dispose of needles.

"Maybe the thing to think is if we don't have a safe injection site, then it doesn't mean there won't be drugs being done, it's just that there are then dozens of unsafe injection sites happening all over the place." 

Recreational drug danger

"We've seen numerous reports from across the country that recreational drugs are becoming more dangerous," said Quito Maggi, president and CEO of Mainstreet Research. 

Despite the spike in drug overdoses, 49 per cent of Saskatoon residents surveyed feel there is no difference in the safety of recreational drug use. Fifty-one per cent of Regina residents feel there is no difference as well. 

According to the poll, the lowest support for an injection site in Saskatoon came from those between the ages of 35 and 49, at 33 per cent. People between the ages of 18 and 34 were most supportive with 43 per cent approving the idea. 

Across the two cities, an average of 35.5 per cent of people surveyed were keeping up with fentanyl stories in the news to some extent.