MORE NEEDLE DROP BOXES

Drug users in our city use on a monthly average about 7,000 syringes
handed to them from needle exchange outreach workers. I found this
number to be incredibly high and I couldn't help but wonder about the
actual benefit of doling out tools to help addicts to get high.

Several studies I've read have argued that needle exchange programs
don't really work, most of them indicate that high percentages of
intravenous drug users with Hepatitis and HIV still share their
needles, as do those without such diseases. But I'm always on the
lookout for more tangible evidence and I found it by talking to
outreach workers in our community.

The exchange program operated by Tillicum Haus Friendship Centre has
seen an increase in the number of people getting tested and treated
for communicable diseases. These initiatives may not be popular among
some Harbour City residents, but the numbers speak for themselves and
the exchange programs are bringing health care to those who have
otherwise been forgotten and would have little chance to get treatment.

Discarded needles pose a threat to any unsuspecting pedestrian who may
get stuck in the foot or hand, but hopefully outreach workers and drop
boxes will help keep these sharp items off the streets. The city is
currently making three heavy steel units to safely collect discarded
needles.

Not everyone supports the decision, which surprises me. The Daily News
conducted one of our unscientific polls this week to find out who
agrees with the city's plan to install three drop boxes to collect
needles. The 119 respondents were nearly divided on the issue.
Sixty-one did not support any program that helped facilitate users,
but 58 said they either support the program or thought the city should
take it one step further and supply a clean needle exchange.

I don't see a need to have city staff handing out needles because
Nanaimo Needle Exchange and Tillicum Haus are doing a fine job
already, but obviously something needs to be done about the remaining
needles ending up in the streets.

Talk to any of the residents who live near Nob Hill Park or along
Victoria Road and they'll tell you how worried they are that their
children may step or pick up some of these possibly infectious items.

The needle exchange programs collect at least 96% of the needles they
hand out each month, but there are still some out there that need to
be collected. Why not provide the users with a safe place to drop
their syringes? It just makes sense.

I would actually suggest making more. Put them in the Old City
Quarter, near some of the apartment buildings, anywhere. They can't be
expensive.

City mechanic Jack Hawes designed the prototype and told me it would
take little work to keep pumping them out. If the city spreads them
out like public garbage cans, then you have a better chance of
collecting every needle out there and you avoid the risk of creating
three hot beds for drug use.

For those who simply reject the notion of needle exchange programs, I
think it's time to look at the evidence. Look at the increased number
of drug users now visiting the health clinic operated by Tillicum Haus
Friendship Centre. Dennis Ano started the program just over a year ago
and within that first year, he had already quadrupled the number of
people he tested for HIV, Hepatitis and other sexually transmitted
diseases. The number of those seeking couselling had doubled.