Pubdate: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Section: Medical Notebook Copyright: 2000 Santa Barbara News-Press Contact: P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara, CA 93102 Website: http://www.newspress.com/ PROGRAM GETS RIGHT TO THE POINT Santa Barbara's new needle-exchange program is serving about 120 drug addicts every month, and Pacific Pride Foundation representatives say they are taking more needles off the streets than they are giving away. The needle-exchange program was approved by the county Board of Supervisors earlier this year. Community health outreach workers who are also HIV counselors began replacing dirty needles with clean ones at the end of September. The program -- paid for through private donations -- is operated by Pacific Pride Foundation, an umbrella organization for the Gay & Lesbian Resource Center and AIDS Project Central Coast. "We approach this issue as a public health issue as opposed to a drug issue," said Rafael Cosio, Pacific Pride's director of education, prevention and training and an HIV testing counselor. "We have received a larger number of dirty needles back than we are giving out." Organizers are optimistic that the program will help slow the spread of viruses such as HIV and AIDS and Hepatitis C. Health experts say they have seen a rise in particular in Hepatitis C cases, which can lead to liver disease. In 1999, 368 people tested positive for Hepatitis C in the county. In 1998 that number was 287, according to the county Public Health Department. There have been 651 people diagnosed with AIDS in the county -- 456 of whom have died -- since the late 1980s, according to figures from the Health Department. Of those cases, 585 of them are men and 62 are women. Four of them are children. Those numbers reflect only people with AIDS who have tested positive in this county. Health experts believe the needle-exchange program just might curb the spread of these viruses. Here's how the program works: Intravenous drug users go the Pacific Pride office on East Haley Street and return dirty needles. For every dirty needle turned in, they get one clean needle in return. Also during the exchange, health professionals will offer users information about how to treat drug problems, talk to them about how long they have been using and ask if they are interested in recovery. Pacific Pride members say the approach is very relaxed and nonconfrontational. "There is a window of opportunity and an avenue of access," said Janet Stanley, executive director of Pacific Pride. "It gives us the opportunity to talk about education and prevention and provide materials and referrals to potential recovery programs." Stanley said it is important that the community realize that intravenous drug users come in all ages, races and sexes. You cannot put a face on the intravenous drug user, she said. "From people driving their Jaguars to people walking from the park," Stanley said. "We tend to categorize users as 'those folks.' But the reality is, those folks are us." It may be too early to tell, but apparently there hasn't been a rise in drug violations because of the program, authorities said. "This is probably more of a health issue than it is a law enforcement issue," said police Lt. Nick Katzenstein, a department spokesman. "If there is no clean needle exchange they (addicts) are going to use the dirty ones. Perhaps they are using the clean ones and maybe it will be less of a health hazard." The Medical Notebook series runs every other Wednesday. You can contact Staff Writer Joshua Molina with story ideas by telephone at 564-5279. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D