Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jun 2006
Source: Sunday Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2260
Author: Himaya Quasem
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

A MILLION NEEDLES ON OUR STREETS

ONE million dirty heroin needles were dumped on Scotland's streets 
last year. And last night, critics called for a clampdown on clinics 
who give out free needles to addicts. Needles are exchanged in around 
200 clinics to stop the spread of hepatitis C. But workers can also 
give needles at their own discretion. As a result, addicts do not 
always have to return dirty needles in order to pick up clean ones. 
Almost a third of the 2.9million needles given out to drug addicts by 
clinics in 2005 were not disposed of in the special bins provided. 
Professor Neil McKeganey, of the Centre for Drug Misuse, said: 
"Giving ever more needles to drug users does not seem to me to be 
sensible. Advertisement   "In many communities there is an increasing 
problem with discarded needles and syringes, creating a danger to 
people, particularly children, of catching hepatitis C." But a 
Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "Needle exchanges are an 
essential part of strategies aimed at reducing blood-borne infections."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman