COUNCIL CALLS FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO BE EXPANDED

The National Council on Drugs has called for an expansion of the needle
exchange program.

The non-government body will be advising all levels of government that there
is more to syringe programs than providing clean needles.

The council's executive officer, Gino Vumbaca, says governments are being
advised that exchange programs should be linked to treatment services.

Mr Vumbaca says while there are different models in each state, there could
be formal communication or training set up between the two groups.

"They are making contact with a group of people that generally have little,
if any, contact with the treatment sector or sometimes with any other health
or welfare service at all," he said.

"What everyone needs to realise is that needle and syringe exchange porgrams
have had a tremendous impact on the low level of HIV in the Australian drug
using community."