NEEDLE PROGRAM SUCCESS

TAXI drivers, tradesmen and body builders are among the growing number
of people using St Kilda's 24-hour needle and syringe exchange program
- - the only service that operates all night, every night in Victoria.

The manager of health services for the Salvation Army's Crisis
Service, Sue White, said that since the Grey Street program started
operating round the clock in late 2007, it had helped an extra 1000
people get clean equipment every month.

Aside from local sex workers, she said, tradesmen were using the
after-hours service alongside truck drivers and a small number of taxi
drivers.

Body builders who take steroids were also attending.

An evaluation of the 24-hour service by the Salvation Army and Monash
University found it had contributed to a 51 per cent rise in the
number of needles and syringes being distributed between August 2007
and September 2008. The number returned for safe disposal increased 26
per cent.

Ms White said the service had prevented people from sharing equipment
- - a practice known to spread viruses including HIV and hepatitis C. It
had also exposed people to referrals for counselling, detox programs
and other health-care services.

The evaluation found that since the service extended its hours, there
had been little change in drug-related crime or complaints to the
local council.

Ms White said other needle and syringe exchanges should consider
expanding their hours, based on its success.

A Victorian Taxi Directorate spokeswoman said it was not aware of any
drivers using drugs. She said it was working with police "to identify
drivers who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol".

A spokesman for the Victorian Taxi Association said he had also not
heard of drivers using illicit drugs.

"It's very surprising and a bit concerning ... It's something we will
look at," he said.