RESEARCH SHOWS FACILITY SAVES LIVES, CUTS COSTS

It has long been well-recognized that needle exchanges save money for
the health system and save lives. In March 1997, a National
Institutes of Health report concluded that needle-exchange programs
"show a reduction in risk behaviours as high as 80 per cent in
injecting drug users, with estimates of a 30 per cent or greater
reduction of HIV." The panel also concluded that the preponderance of
evidence shows either a decrease in injection drug use among
participants or no changes in their current levels of drug use. Some
studies show the presence of support staff can be a key component,
something that would be limited in a mobile needle-exchange unit.

Yet here we are, with two weeks to go, and the Vancouver Island
Health Authority is not accepting its responsibility to help AIDS
Vancouver Island find an alternate site for this essential health service.

Would we deny addicted smokers access to nicotine-free cigarettes,
children access to vaccinations or sexually active people access to
condoms? Not in today's world. So why do we deny drug users access to
clean needles which reduces the transmission of serious diseases?

Thumbs down to VIHA for its lack of consultation, to council for its
lack of leadership and to our community for its intolerant attitudes.
I understand the street situation outside the location on Cormorant
Street is now under control. Why not let the needle exchange move to
the Pandora site immediately on a trial basis?

David Turner

Victoria