NEEDLES BY THE NUMBERS

Needle exchange rates in the area are on the rise, hitting about
600,000 in 2007.

"Approximately 600,000 both in and out," said Doug Dahl,
communications co-ordinator for the Prince Albert Parkland Health
Region. "It's been going up a little bit."

This is the number of syringes distributed and collected by the
health region in the 2007 needle exchange program.

In 2006, there were more than 500,000 needles exchanged by the health region.

These numbers include needles received through the Sexual Health
Clinic as well as needle collection bins.

The return rate for needles distributed by the health region is
about 100 per cent, said Dahl. However, needles can be purchased in
many locations throughout the city.

"Needles go for about 10 cents each," said Dahl.

This puts the cost of needles alone for the 2007 exchange at around $60,000.

"We can get right down to the exact numbers," said Dahl of the
health region's ability to calculate the number of needles used in
the exchange. "I'm not sure why they aren't done (calculations) already."

Dr. Leo Lanoie, medical health officer for the health region,
provided an estimate of the number of intravenous drug users in Prince Albert.

"I would say somewhere between 300 and 500 people in this town," said Lanoie.

He said the rate of diagnosis for hepatitis C is the most accurate
measure for intravenous drug use. A similar number of people are
diagnosed with hepatitis C each year in Prince Albert as in
Saskatoon or Regina, he added.

The drug use and crime rate are closely linked, said a police officer.

"About 80 per cent of crime is related to drugs somehow," said Troy
Cooper, deputy chief of the Prince Albert City Police. "If we lay
charges, 67 per cent of men and 65 per cent of women are intoxicated
on either drugs or alcohol at the time of arrest."

Cooper added addiction is not an easy problem to tackle and that law
enforcement is only one part of the solution.

The community has a big challenge ahead of it, said Mayor Jim Scarrow.

"It's unbelievable," said Scarrow. "We have two problems in Prince
Albert and they're both addictions - one is alcohol, and one is drugs."

But he predicted a better future.

"I think as our society moves forward, there's going to be a younger
group who will be better educated about the use of drugs."

As a solution to addictions, Scarrow pointed to an education system
that is equipping children with the skills to fight addiction, and
to a number of organizations that help individuals recover from addiction.