NEW METHOD ASSISTS SAFE NEEDLE DISPOSAL

Chemists and councils will play a key role in used-syringe disposal
under a new Victorian Government program.

Acting Premier and Health Minister John Thwaites yesterday launched
the Safe Needle Disposal Strategy, which aims to reduce the number of
discarded needles in public places.

A key part of the strategy is getting 20 per cent of Victoria's 1200
pharmacies to install disposal facilities and provide safe user
information.

"Distributing needles is an existing role, but being part of the
retrieval and disposal role will be a new one for chemists," Mr
Thwaites said. One in five needles distributed to drug users came
from chemists.

The chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's harm
minimisation committee, Irvine Newton, said yesterday that chemists
would need adequate resources and training to carry out the new role.

The cost of disposal was expensive, and training staff on safety was
essential, he said.

Mr Irvine said the low rate of hepatitis C and HIV transmission was
partly due to chemists providing clean needles and fit-packs.

"Traditionally chemists have been on the supply end, and we encourage
that role to help prevent disease in the intravenous drug-using
community," Mr Irvine said.

He said the impact on chemists that became disposal depots would be
minor if the public understood the wider community benefits.

"If they weighed up the chance of finding a syringe in a child's
playground or having their local chemist take a responsible role, I
think most people would be supportive of this idea," he said.

The government's strategy includes a toll-free help-line giving
advice on needle disposal that begins today. Mr Thwaites said people
who found syringes in streets, parks or on the beach could call for
information on how to safely handle and dispose of the needle.

Aaron Stowe, of Inner South Community Health, which services the City
of Port Phillip, said the four key things to remember in handling
syringes were:

Pick up by the barrel, not the sharp end.

Never try to re-cap the needle.

Take a container (e.g. softdrink bottle) to the needle, do not carry
the needle to the container.

Call the toll-free number. Do not put syringe in domestic waste.

The toll-free number is 1800 55 23 55.