OUTREACH PROGRAM WOULD OFFER DOOR-TO-DOOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE

Suburban junkies should soon be able to exchange their hypodermic needles
without leaving their neighbourhoods under a new outreach program.

The needle exchange program now operates only out of a downtown location in
Commercial Alley. But a move is afoot to expand the AIDS Vancouver Island
service, using a van or trailer to take needles to drug users in outlying
areas.

Under the program, it's hoped more people can be served - and the spread of
diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis through shared needles slowed.

Ruthann Tucker, executive director of AIDS Vancouver Island, said the
program move into an area without prior consultation. She admitted it may
be a tough sell.

"The reality is people don't want acknowledge that these issues are
happening in their communities," she said. "But Victoria is going to have
to face up to reality on some levels. There is a significant level of
injection drug use happening."

The initiative already has the support of at least two community associations.

Victoria police are also generally supportive of the plan for a mobile
unit. They hope it will take some of the pressure off the downtown area,
now getting more than its fair share of injection drug users because of the
single needle exchange.

Ray Rice, mayor of Esquimalt, said there might be some opposition but he
believes his council would support a mobile needle exchange coming into his
municipality.

"There is a responsibility on elected people's part and this is one area
where I believe we have to use a mature attitude," said Rice.

Ray Williams, Saanich acting mayor, said he's had misgivings in the past,
but he believes most people in Saanich would support a mobile exchange stop.

However, Williams would not support Saanich paying for it.

Tucker said the program is the joint brainchild of several groups and agencies.

Victoria Streetlink and Victoria Street Community Association, the city of
Victoria and the Capital Health Region are all involved in working out the
details.

The main holdup is lack of funding and there is no indication when it will
come through. The program will cost about $300,000 to start up, said Tucker.

There is no doubt the need is there, she said. In the last two years the
number of clients using the downtown needle exchange has increased almost
100 per cent.

The downtown clinic is now serving the 100 people a night and it just can't
take any more, said Tucker.

Tucker said it's now estimated that a total of about 3,400 people in the
Victoria area are using injection drugs. Last year about 1,600 people
regularly used the needle exchange.

If people fear an expansion of the needle exchange will lead to an increase
in discarded hypodermics, the record of returns suggests otherwise.

Claire Dineen, co-ordinator of the street outreach services that runs the
needle exchange, said the service takes in more needles than it hands out
for an exchange rate of 105 per cent.