NEEDLE EXCHANGE A POINT OF CONTROVERSY

Harm reduction has been shown to curb the spread of HIV, but
controversy begins when there is talk about needle exchanges.

"It is a contentious issue and I think many people feel that the
supply of needles actually drives the demand. It's actually
completely the other way around," said Dr. Moira McKinnon, the
province's chief medical health officer.

A group of people using cocaine, which gives a short high, will
inject up to 20 times a day on average, McKinnon said.

According to a report produced for the Ministry of Health, the best
estimate is that needle exchange programs reduce the transmission of
HIV by one-third and save $4,000 in health-care costs for every $1,000 spent.

"There are issues coming out of the needle exchange from the
community and they are valid concerns. The concern (is that) we are
finding needles everywhere," said Joceline Schriemer, Saskatchewan
Party MLA and Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Health with
responsibility for addictions. "I know there are police officers and
medics that get stuck by needles and this is a concern."

It comes down to personal responsibility, said Lana Bear, a former
injection drug user.

"I think (a needle exchange) is helpful, but I think it's a choice
thing, too," she said.

"I used to use it. I used to pick (needles) up whenever I could. I
wasn't scared of getting poked by the needle or anything like that."

"A lot of people will get them and just throw them on the ground.
I've seen people do that. It's careless."

Supporters of harm reduction strategies point out that not everyone
is responsible with their needles, just like not everyone is
responsible with their litter, but a majority of people are responsible.

"The use of clean needles and the recognition (by drug users) that
they are protecting themselves from disease, enhances the public
health side of this equation," said Stephen Lewis, former UN
Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.

"It's not just clean needles. You have nurses supervising the needle
exchange, you have counsellors built into your clinics. You have a
lot of support given to drug addiction when you are dealing with harm
reduction. In fact, a good harm reduction program enhances public health."

McKinnon said to address transmission the addiction needs to be addressed.

"The answer to reducing the number of needles is reducing the number
of addictions," she said.

"What we're looking at is the problem holistically, that takes the
community into consideration and hears their concerns," said Schriemer.

"It's a difficult issue ... and we want to help people, but at the
same time we need to weigh and balance, in order to be fair and
protect all citizens."

Judy Junor, the health critic for the NDP, doesn't think the
government is giving the community all the correct information.

The message that people are getting makes it appear that the system
is fostering the drug trade, she said.

"That kind of messaging given to (the public) doesn't give them the
right information to make an informed decision," Junor said.