Pubdate: Tue, 22 Apr 2014
Source: Clinton News-Record (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Clinton News-Record
Contact: http://www.clintonnewsrecord.com/letters
Website: http://www.clintonnewsrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1725
Author: Gerard Creces

NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM ROLLING OUT IN HURON COUNTY

Clean Needles Keep Everyone Safe.

The Huron County Health Unit is still working with community partners
to implement a new needle exchange program. The program has been in
place in the county since November, when it was passed at the Board of
Health.

While there are a couple locations for intravenous drug users to get
and return clean needles currently in the county, the need for
increased accessible service is still very prevalent.

Prior to the implementation of a local program, Huron County users
were traveling to Middlesex and Perth counties for needles and
supplies. While it is not an exact number, Public Health Nurse at the
HCHU, Shelley Spence, said county residents used between 5,000-10,000
needles a month - mostly obtained at exchange clinics in London.

"We have known there are people in the community in need of this
service - now we have the opportunity and the partners on board,"
Spence said. "We are very pleased this has happened in this direction."

Thus far, return rates have been high, and studies show that needle
exchanges greatly reduce the amount of needles found in the community.

The program also offers IV drug users the opportunity to speak
directly to people at the clinic as well, learning more about the
program itself and giving their feedback as to how it works and how it
can be improved.

Since being passed in November, the health unit has been trying to
engage people to be a host for needle exchange sites, and Spence noted
the response has been quite positive.

"People are buying in," she said, citing methadone clinics in both
Exeter and Seaforth. "It didn't really take long - doing this sort of
background information takes the longest part. Something like this
needs assessment and ground work."

For users themselves, the feedback has also been good. In fact, Spence
said, it is their input that determines how successful the clinics
are.

"It's not up for us as professionals to decide how to run a program,"
she said. "We have to make sure the program is going to work for the
people using it.

"We've had great feedback from users in the county. They are equal
partners."

The effect of the program is reducing drug-related harm to people
using IV drugs, provide safe disposal of used needles and offering a
point of contact for health services for a demographic that is
reluctant to approach the health system.

While there are more clinics to be rolled out this year, the
logistics, dates and times still need to be worked out. A list of
current clinics is offered on the health unit web site.

Spence said that while some residents may be concerned about a needle
exchange program being set up in their neighbourhoods, the overall
goal is harm reduction, adding IV drug users are also members of the
community.

The health unit also has link on their site for the Ontario harm
reduction program.

"Sometimes when these programs are established we get people asking
questions," she said. "We want to make sure we can help dispel any
myths - for all community members."

Anyone with questions about the clinic is welcome to call the health
unit for more information.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D