Pubdate: Wed, 15 Apr 2015
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2015 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Page: 4

NEEDLE NUMBERS AN UNCOMFORTABLE POKE

The numbers are staggering and frightening and raise many questions
about our future.

In recent days the Daily Herald has been looking at the issue of
discarded needles that are being disposed of by intravenous drug users
in and around Prince Albert.

Thousands a year are ending up anywhere but where they are supposed
to, putting average Prince Albert residents, especially children,
potentially at risk.

Just as alarming are the number of needles actually being handed out
to these individuals. It is stunning.

Between April 1, 2013 and March 31 of 2014 there were 1,203,382
needles handed out to intravenous drug users here. At first glance, it
would appear that number can't be right. How can a city of 42,000 or
so be handing out an average of 3,300 needles each and every day.

To put it in another light. Saskatchewan hands out just over 4.4
million needles a year in this province of 1.13 million. More than a
quarter of that number comes from a city of 42,000.
Unbelievable.

How many people here, and those who come in and out of Prince Albert,
are intravenous drug users? Hundreds? Thousands? How do those kinds of
numbers happen?

We're not talking about people smoking a little bit of weed here, this
is hard-core, serious and seriously dangerous and damaging chemicals
and lifestyles.

It is easy to see why some diseases, such as HIV infection is so
dramatically high in Prince Albert and area as with so much
intravenous drug use, it has to be expected that some people, despite
the dangers, are sharing needles.

It raises the question of whether or not we are doing enough as a
society to educate on the dangers of intravenous drug use, the
potential life ramifications and in finding ways to reduce use overall.

It's an important question, because there is almost no other force out
there that can destroy lives as completely as intravenous drug use
can.

A program such as the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region's Straight
to the Point Harm Reduction Program will have its fair share of
critics. It is understandable. Some people resent the high amount of
resources put into a program that helps those who got themselves
addicted to keep feeding their addiction.

For many, it is a frustrating thought that these people drain so much
money that could do so much good in our communities. It is
frustrating.

But at the same time, addiction is powerful, and as frustrating as it
can be that a person puts them self in such a position, the cost of
things like needle programs is but a fraction of what the health care
costs are for people who end up with diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Kill needle programs such as these and infection and transmission
rates will climb ever higher. As unfortunate as it is, needle exchange
programs are a necessity.

And despite what some critics will claim, study after study after
study has found they do not increases in drug use rates.

And, as troubling as the number of 59,671 needles from the program
being unaccounted for in 2013-2014, many of which ending up discarded
in our community, the reality is that these intravenous drug users are
being surprisingly responsible. Over 95 per cent of these needles
being handed out are being returned to the needle exchange.

So while our health experts fight to help these people, and hope to
help them get their lives turned around, it is up to the rest of us to
do our part to keep our communities safe.

It starts at home with our kids. Parents need to educate their kids to
go nowhere near these discarded needles if and when they see them.
Even that is a frightening prospect when taking the natural curiosity
of kids into account.

And of course, our kids need to understand early the danger of using
those needles in the first place.

It is unfortunate to think that so many people in Prince Albert and
area need and use the needle exchange program here. It is troubling on
all kinds of levels.

It's even scarier to imagine what might be without such a program.
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MAP posted-by: Matt