GET TO WORK NOW TO RESTORE NEEDLE EXCHANGE

As a former school teacher and childcare worker in Victoria, I can
understand and echo the concerns of community members and parents
worried about discarded needles in the Harris Green neighbourhood,
where I've worked for the past six years.

However, research suggests that needle exchange services increase
safe disposal practices by users, decrease used needles on our
streets and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C -- all of
which improve the personal and public health of the region.

In fact the AIDS Vancouver Island needle exchange reported a
104-per-cent return rate for 2006, meaning it collected four per cent
more needles than it gave out.

Closing a proven, effective harm reduction service like the
needle-exchange will lead to increased transmission of disease and
more needles being discarded on our streets and parks; by allowing
this to happen, our local government and health authority are taking
a serious gamble with all of our public health.

Harm reduction leads to safer communities and the Vancouver Island
Health Authority and the City of Victoria should immediately begin
the community engagement and public consultation necessary to
re-establish this necessary health service.

Philippe Lucas

Victoria