Pubdate: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 Source: Kootenay News Advertiser (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Kootenay News Advertiser Contact: http://www.kootenayadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2651 Author: Trevor Crawley Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) NEW NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM The ANKORS Society recently made a presentation to Cranbrook City Council regarding the success of a needle exchange program in the West Kootenay that they would like to implement at their office. The needle exchange program focuses on the theme of harm reduction, a set of non-judgemental approaches aimed at providing services and support for people to be safer and healthier. Presenting to council were Executive Director Gary Dalton and Board Member Deb Summers, both of which took turns advocating for the need to implement such a program. They both stress that although harm reduction emphasizes a change for safer practices, it still has the long term goal of abstinence in drug use. They explain that oftentimes, a needle exchange program is seen as an enabling vehicle for drug use, and point out that while providing clean needles may not stop drug use, they can help cut down on the spread of blood borne pathogens. The exchange drop box will be located outside the Family Connections building which will allow for streamlining of treatment. Users will be able to receive referrals to physicians, mental health and counselling, detox, drug rehabilitation, legal aid, transition housing and more. Such a program in the West Kootenay has been running since 1998 and it has been a huge success. Quarterly, the society in Nelson receives 130 to 140 registered clients with a 94 percent exchange rate. They average 120,000 needles given away each year. East Kootenay Addictions Services partnered with ANKORS to put out a survey as part of an information gathering initiative. Of the 39 that participated, half were located in Cranbrook, a third are employed in the community and representation from male and female were equal. Stimulants, such as cocaine were more widely used than opiates such as heroin. The number of needles used were directly associated with a respondents drug of choice. "Half the respondents are positive for Hepatitis C," says Dalton, "and half of the respondents reported sharing their needles and equipment." He says that the reasons respondents replied to in regards to sharing needles were because of drug use in couples and a lack of clean needles. "A quarter of the survey participants have used the current needle exchange service at public health and few people would purchase needles at a pharmacy," continues Dalton. Other services offered at the Family Connections building such as Better Babies and Big Brothers Big Sisters are on board with the program. Dalton says that while the building will house the exchange site, efforts will be made to encourage clients that it is not a safe injection site. Needles that are exchanged will be taken to Interior Health where they will be properly and safely disposed of. The exchange drop box will be located on the back wall of the Cranbrook Family Connections building by the Viking Skate Park. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom