Pubdate: Thu, 10 May 2012
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Rochelle Baker

DE JONG STICKS WITH MAYOR'S STANCE ON HARM REDUCTION

Minister of Heath and Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong supports the
mayor's stance favouring the establishment of a needle exchange in the
community.

"I've seen Mayor [Bruce Banman's] comments and spoken with him about
the issue and feel he is taking a responsible view," said de Jong Wednesday.

The City of Abbotsford is currently reviewing its current anti-harm
reduction bylaw banning any harm reduction measures to serve drug
addicts, such as needle exchanges or supervised injection sites within
the municipality.

Citing high rates of hepatitis C transmission and hospital overdoses,
Fraser Health is actively encouraging Abbotsford to establish some
harm reduction measures.

The health authority recently provided the city with a proposed harm
reduction plan centered on needle distribution. The plan does not
advocate for a safe injection site in Abbotsford.

On a number of occasions, Banman has said he supports needle
distribution to combat the transmission of disease, address public
safety concerns around dirty, discarded needles, drive down health
care costs and provide "humanitarian" care to drug users.

De Jong conceded Banman may or may not have the rest of council's
support on the matter but the minister has no plans to interfere or
sway council.

"We elect local council and the mayor to exercise their responsibility
and do the work of local council," he said.

"I'm pleased the matter will be discussed and await the results of
those deliberations."

Policy makers should consider the advice of medical experts when
coming to decisions around harm reduction, he said.

"We should be guided by the best medical and clinical advice
available."

Fraser Health data indicates Abbotsford has a high rate of hospital
admissions due to illicit drug overdoses compared to Surrey and
Burnaby/New Westminster areas, which have needle distribution programs.

Deaths from overdoses in Abbotsford are also above the FHA regional
rate and the provincial rate, noted the plan report.

Abbotsford's illicit drug mortality rate from 2005 to 2009 was 8.08
per 100,000 people, while the Fraser Health regional rate was 6.86 and
the provincial rate was 7.79. Abbotsford also has a high rate of new
hepatitis C infections, which Fraser Health believes can be tied to
the city's lack of harm reduction services and addicts re-using dirty
needles and crack pipes.

Abbotsford's infection rate for 2010 was 64.4 per cent versus a
provincial rate of 54.9, and a Canadian rate of 33.7 in 2009.

Fraser Health has pointed to evidence-based research that indicates
supplying needles to addicts does not increase drug use, negatively
impact drug treatment or increase the number of needles found in the
street.

The proposed needle exchange program would likely need to serve a
minimum of 500 intravenous drug users living in the Abbotsford area,
and distribute about 120,000 needles annually.

The three suggested sites for a needle exchange were near the
Salvation Army's Centre of Hope along the West Railway corridor, a
site near the intersection of Peardonville Road and South Fraser Way,
or in the Jubilee Park area. 
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