Pubdate: Thu, 09 Mar 2006 Source: Tribune, The (CA) Copyright: 2006 The Tribune Contact: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/391 Author: Nathan Welton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) COUNTY TO START NEEDLE EXCHANGE Officials Hope To Lower Infection Rates Of HIV And Hepatitis C With The Help Of Pharmacists Bull Chaney is one of the estimated 324 people in San Luis Obispo County living with HIV. The Los Osos man and former addict got it from sharing needles in the 1980s - but he says his life might be different if he'd been able to use a needle exchange program, like the one county health officials are starting up. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized the development of a two-pronged attempt to lower the infection rates of HIV and Hepatitis C, both of which are frequently transmitted when intravenous drug users share needles. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS; Hepatitis C is a disease that attacks the liver. "This is a no-brainer," said Chaney, 49, who's been clean for eight years and who has dedicated himself to doing AIDS outreach and education for the county. "It's a huge harm reducer for our people and our communities." First, the county will develop a program that will trade used needles and syringes for clean ones. The closest such program is in Santa Maria, and exchanges have been shown to reduce the incidence of Hepatitis C by 50 percent. Also, pharmacists will be allowed to sell up to 10 needles or syringes to adults who don't have prescriptions. Experts say that will likely appeal to drug users who manage to cover up their habits and who don't want to be seen at public needle exchanges. They also might provide a way for high school students who are injecting steroids to get clean needles. Critics argue that syringe programs encourage and condone drug use, but research shows otherwise. "Many studies have shown that needle exchange does not recruit new injection drug users," said Dr. Greg Thomas, public health director. "Syringe exchange programs act as a bridge to get injection drug users into treatment and other social services." A 2003 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes study of 600 injection drug users showed that drug use doesn't increase with access to clean needles. And according to a Center for Health Improvement policy brief, addicts who used a syringe exchange program in Oakland were twice as likely to stop sharing needles after six months when compared to those who didn't exchange their needles. Further, Chaney said, his experience shows that needle exchanges can only help. A strung-out drug addict won't pass up a chance to get high just because he doesn't have a clean syringe, Chaney said. "It's just the way it is," he said. They'll "get it into their systems as fast as they can, whether it's with a new needle or an old needle." Thomas said many users won't specifically seek help, but needle exchanges are beneficial because they introduce users to medical and social services experts who can help. An added advantage, Thomas said, is that needle-stick injuries to police officers go down 66 percent following clean-needle programs. Thomas is expected to present to supervisors a more detailed proposal for the exchange program in several weeks. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman