Pubdate: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 Source: Spokesman-Review (WA) Copyright: 2002 The Spokesman-Review Contact: http://www.spokesmanreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/417 Author: Lynn Everson NEEDLE EXCHANGE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL Richard Clear (Letters, March 12) seems confused about needle exchange programs and the new Know Your Status program. Hopefully, this letter will help enlighten him and others who may be unsure of the reason these programs have been implemented. The needle exchange began operating in Spokane in 1991. Each year, the number of exchangers and the number of syringes exchanged increases. The increases result from drug users' efforts to avoid infection with Hepatitis B or C or with HIV. The exchange also provides education and referrals. In 2001 we referred clients to other services more than 600 times. The fact that our clients care about reducing the harm their addictions do to themselves, their families and their community is demonstrated by the fact that they exchange regularly while continuing to work toward being clean and sober. Clear is also confused about the behavior of HIV-infected people, most of whom are very concerned about infecting others. HIV is most often spread by those who are unaware of their infection. The Know Your Status program helps identify those who don't know they are infected. Hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact, and since the availability of testing, it is rarely spread by blood products. Through education about risk-reduction with injection drug users, we hope to reduce the spread of Hepatitis C as well as HIV. Anyone with questions or concerns is invited to contact either Lisa with the Know Your Status program (324-1547) or Lynn with the needle exchange program (324-1549). We want the community to be aware of our programs and the results. Lynn Everson Spokane, WA - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens