MCMORRIS LAUNCHES NEEDLE EXCHANGE REVIEW

REGINA -- To address sharp criticism of the province's needle
exchange programs, Health Minister Don McMorris has launched an
independent review of the programs.

The Ministry of Health received complaints from organizations such as
the Saskatoon Police Service about finding needles during the spring
thaw, said Rick Trimp, the executive director of population health
with Saskatchewan Health.

"Due to a number of concerns that have been raised, the minister
decided to launch a review of the needle exchange program to
determine whether we are using the best practices for needle exchange
in our cities," Trimp said.

Laurence Thompson Strategic Consulting will review the needle
exchange programs in seven health regions, with the largest
operations in the Regina Qu'Appelle, Saskatoon and Prince Albert
Parkland health regions. The review will be finalized by December.

Thompson has a background in health services research. His previous
positions include interim CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Quality
Council and CEO of the Health Services Utilization and Research Commission.

Although the province's needle exchange programs are reviewed
annually, this review will be broader in scope and focus on the
current patterns of needle exchange and historical trends, the best
practices for needle exchange programs and interviews with program
administrators, clients and community-based organizations such as
police, firefighters and schools.

During the 2007 spring cleanup, 645 loose needles were collected in
Regina. In Saskatoon, 372 needles were picked up after the snow melted.

In the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region in 2006-07, 1.9 million
needles were handed out and 1.861 million were returned.

In Saskatoon in 2006-07, about one million needles were issued and
873,000 were returned.

Trimp didn't have statistics on the number of needles collected from
playgrounds or back alleys for Prince Albert, but said 468,115
needles were issued in that city and 424,052 were returned.

He said it's important to put the numbers in context.

"Not everybody disposes of their needles back to the needle exchange
van," he said. "You'll see people putting them into the sharps
containers in public washrooms or into the other sharps containers
that are distributed around the community."

Needle exchange programs aim to reduce the sharing of unclean needles
among injection drug users and prevent the transmission of HIV and
other blood-borne pathogens. Saskatchewan Health recommends that if
people find loose needles, they contact local public health offices or police.

Trimp said that since the needle exchange program was implemented in
1999, no Saskatchewan residents have contracted HIV or hepatitis from
a needle stick injury.