15,000 DRUG ADDICTS TARGETED FOR HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMME

The Health Ministry is targeting to provide 15,000 drug addicts with
free syringes through its Harm Reduction Programme in its effort to
curb the risk of HIV infection among intravenous drug-users. Its
deputy minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said until July this
year, 2,224 had participated in the programme and 30,000 condoms
distributed for the same objective.

"This means, the 2,224 addicts need not share syringes and indulge in
unsafe sex," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Mat Yasir
Ikhsan (BN-Sabak Bernam) on the effectiveness of the programme, in
the Dewan Rakyat here today.

Of the number, he added, 155 addicts agreed to undergo HIV tests and
130, the Methadone Replacement Therapy.

"Another 322 participants were referred for medical treatment at the
hospitals and health clinics, and 94 to the Social Welfare Department."

On the "shooting galleries" set up by several cities like London,
Vancouver, Amsterdam and Sydney which carry out harm reduction
programmes for its addicts, he said such a facility was not suitable
for Malaysia.

A "shooting gallery" is a legal safe-injection facility (room) where
addicts can shoot up heroin and other drugs under the supervision of
nurses in a bid to check the rate of fatal drug overdose.

"The focus of our free-syringe programme is more towards preventing
the sharing of syringes among drug addicts which could check HIV
infection, and not to facilitate addicts to take drugs," said Dr Abdul Latiff.

"These foreign cities not only have 'shooting galleries' for addicts,
but also offered counselling and risk-communication services and
medical treatment by trained professionals," he added.

Up to December last year, 55,534 HIV cases or 72.7 percent of cases
reported in the country were intravenous drug users.

The Harm Reduction Programme is implemented in Kuala Lumpur, Penang,
Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Kedah.