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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D