Pubdate: Tue, 17 May 2005
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2005 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Tim Christie, The Register-Guard
Cited: HIV Alliance http://www.hivalliance.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLE EXCHANGE VEHICLE STOLEN

Thieves late Friday or early Saturday stole a well-worn Chevrolet van that 
is notable only because of its cargo: About 15,000 clean hypodermic needles 
awaiting disbursal to the community's intravenous drug users.

The van belonged to HIV Alliance. It was used for its thrice-weekly needle 
exchange program, in which volunteers hit the streets and exchange clean 
needles for dirty ones.

The 1990 Chevrolet G-30 van was stolen between 9:30 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. 
Saturday from the HIV Alliance parking lot at 1966 Garden Ave. The white 
van has an extended roof and a retractable awning off the side door.

An old White Bird Clinic decal still was visible on the side.

"It's pretty well worn, but it's our link to our street services and being 
able to provide needle exchange out on the street," said Sharon 
Chamberlain, HIV Alliance's assistant executive director.

"Now, we're in a situation where we're unsure how we're going to be able to 
continue that street-based outreach, which is how we reach the majority of 
our clients," she said.

HIV Alliance exchanges about 52,000 needles each month in an effort to 
prevent the spread of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis C.

The van is insured, and Chamberlain said she's waiting to hear from the 
agency's insurer to see exactly what coverage is provided. She estimated 
its value at $4,000 to $5,000.

In the short term, until the van is recovered or replaced, Chamberlain said 
she plans to run the needle exchange out of her personal vehicle.

Inside the van was a week's worth of supplies, including up to 15,000 clean 
needles, one night's worth of dirty needles in containers, empty needle 
containers and first aid supplies.

Losing the supplies hurts because the cash-strapped agency now has only 
about seven weeks worth of supplies left, she said.

On the bright side, an intern had disposed of a week's worth of dirty 
needles earlier Friday.

Chamberlain said she doesn't think a client of HIV Alliance stole the van. 
Clients are respectful of the needle-exchange program, she said.

"I do not think anyone would steal it for the needles," she said. 
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