ACT ON SYRINGES BEFORE CHILD GETS AIDS

A CHILD should not have to contract AIDS before the State Government
improves its needle exchange program, Holdfast Bay's mayor, Mr Brian
Nadilo, said yesterday.

FAR too many syringes were being found on the Glenelg foreshore, in
stormwater drains and parks and schools, he said.

Calling on the State Government to revamp its needle exchange program,
Mr Nadilo said hot weather drew more people to the beaches and the
recent rain had washed more syringes on to the beach.

"A child should not have to contract AIDS from a needle-stick injury
before something is done about this," he said.

"Parents let their children play in the shallow puddles at the beach
and these are most prevalent around stormwater drains where syringes
tend to be found."

Mr Nadilo said "urgent reform" of the needle exchange program was
needed to stop people disposing of the syringes.

Mr Nadilo said the reforms could include;

NEEDLES given on an exchange basis only when other syringes are
returned.

DEPOSITS imposed on the syringes to encourage their
return.

IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS on syringes so that drug users throwing needles
away could be traced and punished.

Mr Nadilo said he would raise his ideas with other metropolitan
coastal councils and the Local Government Association before taking
the issue to the State Government.

He said Holdfast Bay Council was receiving numerous complaints from
residents about syringes being found in the district and the residents
felt the needle exchange program was not working satisfactorily.

Mr Nadilo said many drug users were injecting themselves in places
where they could hide - parks, schools and in stormwater drains.

When it rained, the syringes were frequently carried by the stormwater
flow and deposited on the beach.

The needle exchange program should be geared more to the safety of the
general community, he said.

Mr Nadilo said innocent members of the community were suffering
because of the irresponsible actions of some drug users.

The head of the Drug and Alcohol Services Council, Mr Robert Ali, said
he was happy to discuss any of Mr Nadilo's concerns with him.

But many of his suggestions had been tried and failed in other parts
of the country and the world.