Injecting Centre survey stirs up locals
An online opinion survey about the Medically Supervised Injection Centre (MSIC) in Kings Cross has ignited the email networks of both friends and foes of the Centre, and has drawn claims that the survey is flawed and biased.
The survey was commissioned by NSW Health and is being carried out by accounting giant KPMG. It is part of ongoing evaluation of the Centre which, despite several favourable reviews and an endorsement by the NSW Coroner, remains on a trial basis.
As people around Kings Cross became aware of the survey, the link went viral, underlining criticisms that the self-selection of participants precluded true randomness in its sample.
While the survey was aimed at residents of Kings Cross and neighbouring suburbs, there appeared to be no restrictions on participation, meaning anyone from anywhere could take part.
There also seems to be no restriction on the number of times the same user can submit. To test this, City News entered twice. Even the straw polls offered online by most newspapers prevent the same user entering twice from the same computer, and these polls are still recognised as lacking statistical rigour because they are self-selecting.
The survey itself is said by some locals to be biased, and at least one question is so badly worded its results are meaningless. Question 23 reads in part: “Do you agree or disagree with the establishment of the Centre in Kings Cross?” – a pivotal question. But the only responses available are “Yes”, “No” or “Don’t know”.
An answer of “Yes”, for instance would therefore mean that the respondent “agreed or disagreed”, which tells us nothing.
The survey was advertised only in the Wentworth Courier which covers the Eastern Suburbs but not areas west of the Kings Cross main street, leading to further questions about the survey’s randomness and its catchment.
Other questions make assumptions about cause and effect. Question 11 asks which of several multiple choices were the most annoying things about drug use in Kings Cross. One choice is “Harassment or begging”, which implies that begging is related to illicit drug use. However Pastor Graham Long from the Wayside Chapel recently said that most street begging was for cigarette money, and predicted that any large price rises would cause more begging.
In response to a number of questions from The City News based on the above criticisms, the MSIC declined to comment as it had nothing to do with the project; KMPG bounced it to NSW Health, and Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt bounced it back to KPMG, saying: “The methodology being used to undertake the survey is an issue for KPMG.”
“Given the sensitive nature of the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre Trial, community perceptions are regularly monitored to ensure that local business and community impacts may be dealt with as soon as possible,” Ms Tebbutt continued.
“The continuation of the Trial status of the Centre reflects the success of the service to date and the need to build a satisfactory evidence base as to the long term effectiveness of the Centre in achieving its multiple aims, with the most complex drug dependent individuals.”
The survey was still online at the time of writing at kpmg.com.au/surveys/msic. Previous surveys have consistently shown a clear majority of locals in favour of the Centre. The trial basis of the Centre makes it politically vulnerable as Liberal Party policy is to close it should they win the next state election. Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell has said the matter would be put to a conscience vote. But if nothing at all is done – always an easy option for a government – a sunset clause in the existing legislation means it would simply run out of funding.
by Michael Gormly
Facts about the Injecting Centre
In 2009 the MSIC averaged 200 clients a day, which has remained steady for several years. It was opened in 2001. It registers an average of two new clients each day, with 11,723 all-time registrations. Clients are often homeless, or involved in sex work and have a low level of education. The drugs most commonly injected are heroin and pharmaceutical opioids, the latter on a rising trend and now more frequent than heroin. Over 3,500 overdoses have been treated at the Centre with no deaths. Early intervention means that oxygen treatment is usually sufficient. This also minimises possible brain damage from the overdose. Over 8,000 referrals have been made to welfare, health and drug treatment services, with 30 per cent taking up drug treatment.
