THE LIFE OF AN ADDICT

The Sun Follows a Needle From the City's Exchange Program to the Arm
of an Addict

This syringe's life begins at a downtown needle exchange program.

It's picked up by a female addict.

She's already got her crack cocaine and, along with a few other
addicts, leaves with the needle.

They take it to a city parking garage.

They huddle together around the needle.

A few keep a look out for the cops. They call this "keep six."

The crack is cooked with city-issued materials. The needle sucks in
the drug. It pricks the arm of one. Then the foot of another.

The needle is used by three addicts, including her. The others smoke
theirs in pipes.

It's all over in about 10 minutes and the needle is left on the ground.

Tossed Away

Its fate is shared by thousands of needles each year.

They're tossed next to churches, playgrounds, day cares, sidewalks
and, of all places, the roof of the city-run needle exchange at 179
Clarence, also known as the Site.

It's the way of life for addicts, particularly Angie, a 21-year-old
addict who's been injecting crack and cocaine since she was barely a teenager.

She has hepatitis C, thinks she has AIDS and told the Sun she's two
months pregnant.

She'll use a needle to get high about six times a day. It's the same
routine over and over. Only the location and people change. She also
uses crack pipes.

When she was about eight years old, she says, her older brother
forced her to "do things to him."

He made her touch him, fellate him and this continued until she was
10 years old.

Around that time, her parents divorced.

Angie was swept into a life of drugs and sex. She wasn't even a
teenager. Her life would lead to the needle.

The city began handing out clean syringes in 1991 when Ottawa Public
Health implemented the needle exchange program.

The provincially mandated initiative is aimed at reaching out to
addicts who are at risk for, or infected with, HIV and hepatitis C.

The needle exchange gives addicts sterile needles in the hope of
getting dirty ones back in return.

According to the city's website, however, "no client will be refused
sterile needles on the basis that they do not have any used needles
to exchange."

The program has come under fire by several city councillors who have
demanded a review.

"I am sick of hearing from constituents that discarded needles are
littered across the city," Orleans Coun. Bob Monette recently told the Sun.

Councillors want a detailed report to help the city increase the
effectiveness of the harm-reduction program.

Their ultimate goal is a one-for-one exchange. That's only happening
at the Shepherds of Good Hope.

Dr. David Salisbury, the city's medical officer of health, says
one-for-one will increase the spread of HIV.

Nonetheless, the councillors expect the report by July.

Meanwhile, addicts like Angie keep using and leaving needles behind.

"It's a never-ending f---ing drug," she says.

"The high only lasts about a minute. Most times I get impatient and
just borrow someone's needle."

She stays up for about four days straight, then sleeps for a day.
Repeat, rinse and dry.

She pays for crack by panhandling and selling her body.

"I do it all night long," she says of prostituting for a hit that
lasts 60 seconds. That's all she asks for.

"I don't have a price. I just want to get high."