SAFE PLACE FOR THOSE IN NEED

Help Is Offered Where Help Is Needed.

The spread of HIV and Hepatitis C is an ongoing issue that is
recognized in the Kootenay Boundary area, and continues to be
recognized by ANKORS, a rural HIV/AIDS information network study.

ANKORS provides a needle-exchange program to help people make
informed decisions by providing those in need with sterile syringes,
water, filters, alcohol swabs and education.

Drug addictions and abuse are worsened by the sharing of equipment, a
focus for members of both ANKORS and local health departments.

"We meet with people using drugs where they are at and try to stay
well-connected with those who have addictions," said Alex
Sherstobitoff, an ANKORS member.

It's important to have a facility available 24/7 in order to
accommodate to drug users, he added, otherwise the risk of sharing is
proposed. Secondary exchanges are available, and are often a more
inconspicuous source for clean, safe equipment.

There are always risks involved when dealing with such harmful
substances, and Sherstobitoff describes the dangers involved. Based
on overdose, mixing drugs, stopping and starting, taking drugs in an
unsafe environment, injecting improperly or hurriedly, and the lack
of prompt access to detox and treatment can result in death from a needle.

With six help centres in the surrounding Kootenay region,
Sherstobitoff said the hope is to bring the drug users in and
eventually earn their trust to begin the recovery cycle.

"Many of these people don't want to be identified as drug users.
People are hiding in the shadows and we want to get people help by
bridging the gap between us and health officials."

By engaging with people who are using drugs ANKORS hopes to make a
personal connection, a process that takes time in order to build the
trust to find people the help they need.

"I really believe in four pillars, the needle exchange program is
complimentary to prevention and treatment, and we all need to work
together to prevent spread and overdose. We don't preach abstinence,
a lot of people aren't ready to be abstinent, people have to come
when they are ready."

Education is the key to prevention, Hep C rates are very high, and
Sherstobitoff said there is a lower rate of HIV spread in the area
through injection drug use at this point versus Hep C.

Hep C lives outside its host for roughly three days, whereas HIV dies
as soon as it's airborne, unless it is capsulated in a syringe.

By sharing water to rinse the syringe, the disease can be passed just
as easily as it would be by sharing the syringe itself. By properly
disposing of used equipment left in the community, and travelling to
people's homes, ANKORS is taking preventative measures one step at a time.

Sherstobitoff and ANKORS employees travel all over the Kootenay
region, conducting presentations to health professionals in order to
educate and involve as much support for these people as physically
possible. The organization gives out roughly 120 thousand syringes
annually, with a successful syringe return rate of 92 per cent. "I
just don't think there is enough of me to go around. There's a lot of
work to do, and we just can't get to every community," he said of the
challenges he faces.

Many drug users need a place to live and have a hard time finding
physicians as confidentiality is crucial for those seeking help. A
support group is offered during the first Thursday of every month in
Nelson and are held at 7 p.m. for anyone interested.