Pubdate: Mon, 17 Dec 2007
Source: Tribune, The (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Copyright: 2007 The Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/391
Author: Bob Cuddy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

ONCE WARY COUNTY SUPERVISOR LAUDS NEEDLE EXCHANGE

Barely a year into its existence, the county needle exchange program 
has drawn high praise from the Board of Supervisors, including a rare 
public apology from Chairman Jerry Lenthall, a former police sergeant 
who had expressed reservations about the service.

"The culture I came from saw the death and destruction from needles," 
Lenthall told Public Health Director Greg Thomas last week. "You 
walked the walk. I owe you a public apology." Lenthall only 
reluctantly supported the program in a unanimous supervisory vote.

Needle exchange is a controversial, state-mandated program that is 
also being tried in other states. It gives addicts a clean needle if 
they turn in a used one.

Public health officials say the program will reduce the spread of 
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and hepatitis C by reducing needle sharing.

Critics charge that needle exchange encourages addiction.

Rodger Anderson of Morro Bay, a member of the county's Drug and 
Alcohol Advisory Board, said last year, "It's very important that the 
public understand that needle exchange is not promoting injection 
drug use; it's about controlling the spread of disease."

The Clean Syringe Access Program, as the county calls it, handed out 
4,676 syringes and collected 5,368 between Nov. 6, 2006, and 
mid-October. The syringes went to 50 individuals, who made 183 
visits. Users can take as many as 30 at one time.

Exchanging syringes is not the only goal of the program. The county 
also tries to steer people into treatment, according to Jason Wells 
of Drug and Alcohol Services.

Supervisors proclaimed themselves pleased with the needle exchange. 
Jim Patterson said it "looks successful so far," and praised Thomas 
and his colleagues for "addressing an issue up front (instead of) 
addressing the consequences after the fact."

Thomas said it took a while for addicts to trust the county. It took 
three weeks before the first client came in, he said.

Wells and Thomas presented statistics that showed more men than women 
are using the needle exchange service.  They said there is 
insufficient data to determine whether the exchange program is 
reducing the incidence of hepatitis C or HIV in the county.

On another issue, the county has been paying increasing attention to 
methamphetamine use and has scheduled a meeting in January at which 
it will discuss gangs, drugs and other criminal activities.

[sidebar]

FIND STATISTICS AND OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAM

http://media.sanluisobispo.com/smedia/2007/12/14/11/SEP_-_BOS_Presentation_12-11-07.source.prod_affiliate.76.pdf 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake