AIDS NEEDLE EXCHANGE IS SOLUTION, NOT PROBLEM

Not in my backyard.

Those words are easy to say, but they are never a solution to a
problem. When AIDS Vancouver Island, which runs a local needle
exchange, was told they have until the end of the month to shape up or
ship out, it was indicative of a greater problem - a lack of focus on
disease prevention.

This year, the provincial government has budgeted $12.83 billion for
health care - 42 per cent of B.C.'s total budget. But that doesn't
make us healthy. A 2001 study by GPIAtlantic found that more than a
quarter of adult British Columbians are overweight, estimating that
obesity-related illnesses cost our province's health care system $380
million per year. The annual budget for the needle exchange, $250,000,
makes up 0.0019 per cent of that.

A cost-benefit analysis has shown that the needle exchange produces
more good than harm. By a rough estimate, the needle exchange saves
the health care system $1.2-million per year by preventing almost five
cases of AIDS per year. It doesn't sound like much, but it adds up.
The drug counselling services which AIDS Vancouver Island also offers
likely help the health care system even more.

AIDS Vancouver Island has asked for their budget to be doubled, which
would make their budget take up a whopping 0.0039 per cent of health
care expenditures in this province. Needless to say, the government
can afford to chip in.

That doesn't negate the problem resulting from the needle exchange,
sometimes resulting in people sleeping on the streets, human waste,
blood and dirty needles near the exchange. AIDS Vancouver Island needs
to clean up after its patrons and ensure they're not damaging the
neigbourhood. Remember that AIDS Vancouver Island has been in that
location for nearly 20 years. Did residents and shop owners seriously
think the surrounding area would be devoid of social malaise?

Lately, defacement of public property around AIDS Vancouver Island has
been a prolific problem, but that doesn't mean we should throw out the
baby with the bathwater. In this case, more law enforcement around the
area is clearly needed. It isn't right that seniors don't feel safe
walking the streets, that local businesses and public property are
littered with condoms, needles and in some cases fecal matter. It
isn't right that there are fights and shouting matches on the street,
and that citizens are in many cases left to fend for themselves.
Social workers are not asked to work in unsafe conditions, and neither
should citizens.

There needs to be a direct crackdown on this sort of anti-social
behavior. This is a responsibility of city hall and the provincial
government. AIDS Vancouver Island does not have the means or mandate
to do this job, but the police do.

AIDS Vancouver Island is working well. Research has shown this fairly
consistently. Since opening in 1988, the needle exchange has had 1,600
registered users and 25,000 visits a year. In 2006-07, it distributed
740,000 needles and had 104 per cent returned. More needles are coming
back than staying on the street and people are using the system. The
needle exchange is a worthwhile investment and serves Victoria superbly.

There are certainly problems, but the cause isn't AIDS Vancouver
Island. Look no further than the complacent attitude of civic and
provincial officials. More teamwork is needed to solve this problem.