News (Media Awareness Project) - Canada: LTE: Harm Reduction, Harm Increase |
| Title: | Canada: LTE: Harm Reduction, Harm Increase |
| Published On: | 2008-07-21 |
| Source: | Globe and Mail (Canada) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-07-22 00:00:49 |
HARM REDUCTION, HARM INCREASE
It is often implied that "harm reduction," the provision of clean
needles to addicts, will reduce the risk of becoming
HIV-positive.
The opposite is true. While many studies have shown that needle
exchanges reduce what are called risky behaviours, they increase the
risk of becoming HIV-positive.
A large study from Montreal, published in 1997, showed that consistent
needle-exchange users faced a 10 to 22 times higher risk of becoming
HIV-positive than those who never used clean needle exchanges.
A Seattle study showed about double the risk of becoming Hepatitis B
and C positive among regular and sporadic needle-exchange users.
David Crowe
president, Rethinking AIDS
Calgary
It is often implied that "harm reduction," the provision of clean
needles to addicts, will reduce the risk of becoming
HIV-positive.
The opposite is true. While many studies have shown that needle
exchanges reduce what are called risky behaviours, they increase the
risk of becoming HIV-positive.
A large study from Montreal, published in 1997, showed that consistent
needle-exchange users faced a 10 to 22 times higher risk of becoming
HIV-positive than those who never used clean needle exchanges.
A Seattle study showed about double the risk of becoming Hepatitis B
and C positive among regular and sporadic needle-exchange users.
David Crowe
president, Rethinking AIDS
Calgary
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
