Pubdate: Sat, 10 May 2008
Source: Sun Times, The (Owen Sound, CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1544
Author: Don Crosby
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLE CLINIC OPENING IN WALKERTON

Information Sessions Held To Reassure Employees

A needle exchange clinic will soon open at the Walkerton offices of
the Grey Bruce Health Unit, which  is located in the Bruce County
administration building.

Two information sessions were held last month to reassure county
employees at the Park Street building that the clinic was safe.

Similar needle exchange clinics began at the health unit and the
Victorious Living Centre in Owen Sound  last August, as well as at
Grant's Pharmacy in Hanover.

"Initially we were cautious. But (now) we've all been educated and
provided with the information and know  what it's all about," said
Bettyanne Cobean, Bruce  County's clerk treasurer, during a committee
of the  whole meeting on Thursday. "Once they have come in and  made
the needle exchange, it's unlikely they are going  to utilize the
product on our premises. They would  quickly be on their way."

Injection drug use is an increasing concern in small  towns and rural
communities including Grey Bruce, said  Denna Leach, program manager
for the health unit. There  are more than 100 needle exchange programs
in Canada.  In Ontario, 34 programs distribute needles to an 
estimated 41,000 people who inject drugs.

In Ontario, needle exchange programs are a mandatory public health
program in areas where injection drug use  is recognized as a problem
in the community.

Leach said the aim of the program is to reduce the  spread of HIV/AIDS
and other blood borne diseases such  as Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B.

"In Grey Bruce alone we have about 55 new cases of Hepatitis C in our
region annually," said Leach,  adding, "we know that if people are
reusing or sharing  syringes and other equipment in injection drug
use, it  increases their risk to Hepatitis C."

Although there's an estimated 300 injection drug users  in Grey-Bruce
Leach said only about 50 exchanges took  place between August and
December of last year in the  Owen Sound area. To date only two
exchanges have taken  place at the Hanover pharmacy.

In addition to supplying clean needles and drug  paraphernalia used to
facilitate safe injection, the  clinic also collects and disposes used
needles and  supplies, offers information and condoms and provides 
referrals to drug and alcohol treatment centres when  requested.

"We can do testing of blood borne diseases. We can do a full scope of
service for the individual such as HIV,  Hepatitis A and provide
vaccination for Hepatitis A and  B vaccinations at our Walkerton site,
a bit broader service than would be provided at the pharmacy," Leach 
said.

Cobean said part of the information sessions put on by  the health
unit included a survey of similar programs  offered in clinics located
in other public buildings  which was reassuring and indicated there
were no  reasons for concern. Leach said the program in  Walkerton is
expected to start in a couple of weeks and  will operate as part of
the sexual health clinic at the  health unit offices on Monday and
Friday from noon to 4  p.m. More information is available by calling 
519-372-5952.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin