NEIGHBOURS NEEDLED BY ADDICTS

Exchange Turns Cormorant Street Area Into Hypo-Littered Shooting Gallery

Drug addicts begin arriving at the downtown needle exchange by foot or
bicycle when it opens at 3:30 p.m. each day. By that time Garth Greatheart
has scoured the area for dirty syringes.

Sometimes the needle-exchange program co-ordinator doesn't get them all.
And that's causing problems with neighbours. On the quiet side streets near
the exchange, at the corner of Blanshard and Cormorant streets, the
presence of drug addicts and their tossed needles is causing plenty of
consternation.

AIDS Vancouver Island, which started the program in February, says it
recognizes the problem, and some addicts even express annoyance at the
carelessness of their fellow drug users.

The needle exchange exists so addicts can bring in old needles and exchange
them for clean ones -- a strategy aimed at eliminating shared needle use
and cutting down on disease.

But such good intentions have created other sticking points.

The neighbourhood is home to a high-rise condominium building, several
restaurants and a few refurbished brick houses where lawyers have their
offices.

Terry Andersen, who rents a condo on the Quadra corner, has twice found
people shooting up outside her building. Like many of her neighbours on the
block, she has regularly found syringes in driveways, bushes and grass.

"I think this is sickening and nobody is doing anything about it," she
said. "It just makes me sick emotionally and physically that they are doing
this in front of people."

Police have told Andersen to call if she sees someone shooting up and the
users will be picked up if they are using drugs in public.

Similar stories are told up and down the neighbouring streets.

Dan Hansen, owner of Signs of the Times, moved to Garbally Road partially
because he needed more space but mostly because of drugs, vandalism and
graffiti on Cormorant Street.

One day he found a man standing buck-naked at 5 p.m. in a pile of glass
that had once been a mirror on his vehicle.

"The downtown is going downhill," Hansen said, adding he was fed up having
to clean up discarded needles, condoms and other garbage.

Joan McKimm, wife of lawyer Mayland McKimm, said they were thinking about
renovating their office property on Amelia Street, where a tidy backyard
attracts shooters.

The renovation wouldn't be for esthetics but to secure the rear of the
building to keep addicts out.

Legal assistants at two other law firms on Amelia have been greeted with
syringes when arriving at work.

"Nothing would make me happier than to see that place gone," said Claudia
Gable, pointing at the needle exchange. "When I bring my kids down here, I
don't let them out of the car because I don't want them touching needles."

Victoria police Sgt. Darrell Fairburn said officers believe they have a
good rapport with many addicts but realize there are always going to be
some who leave a mess.

Arresting them is difficult, he said, because there is no illegal
possession once the drug has gone into their veins and the residue in the
needle is not enough for charges.

Most in the neighbourhood acknowledge staff at the exchange try to keep the
area needle free. But even one needle can pose a health hazard if it is
contaminated with hepatitis C or the HIV virus.

Kathy Tang said her husband often has to clean up needles in the alcove
entrance to their Gathering Place restaurant. "I prefer a clean
environment," said Tang, who has been at that location for five years and
believes the drug use is getting worse.

A man who identifies himself as John, a regular at the exchange, couldn't
agree more. He urges other addicts who shoot up in public or on private
property to be more discreet. He also picks up needles.

"It's wrong," he said of the less-conscientious addicts.

John, 39, has been an addict since he was a young teen. He gets money for
his drugs by borrowing from friends, and dumpster diving for cans and
bottles. He admits he shoplifts or commits other petty crimes to get money
to feed his addiction.

But he insists he has ethics. He said he shoots up in private and he never
leaves his needles behind.

Bobbie, 31, was clean for 23 days on Thursday but she still goes to the
needle exchange to get a coffee or some soup. Like John, she lives on the
street and is infected with Hep C.

And like John, she also goes out hunting for discarded needles in an effort
to keep the area clean.

Some addicts discard the used needles because they are impatient and can't
be bothered returning them, Bobbie said.

A tour of the area Thursday afternoon revealed no syringes but numerous
blue tips and some packaging that come with the syringes.

Greatheart spends about 45 minutes each morning and afternoon, doing
"sweeps" of the neighbourhood. She generally finds four or five discarded
syringes.

AIDS Vancouver Island executive director Miki Hansen said the exchange is
getting back 104 per cent of the needles it puts out. In June the centre
had an average of 75 daily exchanges, compared with 50 in the same month
last year.

Addicts get credit for the number of needles they return, which in turn
provides them credits for clean syringes.

To address the problem, a group has been formed with representation from
neighbours, including the North Park Association, B.C. Building
Corporation, Vancouver Island Health Authority, the city and AIDS Vancouver
Island. As well, meetings are planned with the fire and police departments
and new strategies are being examined. Calgary installed yellow boxes for
needle disposal. Edmonton is also trying them.

But Fairburn said some addicts are not going to use a needle receptacle
even if all they have to do is lean over and place it in a bin.

Part of the reason some addicts simply discard needles where they are may
be that they are so plentiful with the exchange, whereas they were a more
precious possession when they were harder to come by, even if they were
dirty, he said.