INFECTION RATES DROP AS NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM EVOLVES

The Vancouver Island Health Authority has announced it is expanding
its needle exchange and related harm-reduction program.

This week, VIHA released figures to show that new infection rates for
both hepatitis C and HIV have decreased during the past five years on
Vancouver Island. Part of that can be attributed to increased efforts
to get "harm-reduction supplies" likes clean needles, condoms and
educational materials to addicts, but the Alberni Valley has had its
own health crisis to deal with, according to Janice Jesperson,
clinical co-ordinator at the local health unit.

"We do everything through the health unit, and more people are now
using our service," Jesperson said.

"Partly, that's because of the TB outbreak we've been dealing with.
That's allowed our outreach workers to contact more people."

In 2008, VIHA contracted NARSF (formerly the Nanaimo Area Resource and
Services for Families, now just NARSF) to operate a mobile needle
exchange program in Port Alberni.

NARSF executive director Gord Cote said the original model proved
unsuccessful.

"Since April, we've been working with local service providers to set
up a peer and secondary distributive model," Cote said.

Simply put, that means addicts help one another, and agencies like
local pharmacies and non-profits provide those clean needles, condoms,
sterile water and alcohol swabs.

"We attach quite a lot of education on it, as well," Jesperson said.
"Things as straightforward as how to inject, and where to inject, and
about moving away from the more dangerous drugs."

Cote said that while supplying addicts with materials to prevent
infection is one part of the picture, it's not a long-term solution.

"If you're just surviving, it's a lot harder to make that decision to
change things. Getting people a little healthier helps them make that
decision to seek treatment," Cote said. "We know that safe, adequate
housing is critical to bring about lifestyle change."

According to VIHA, a full list of new needle exchange sites will be
announced over the next few weeks.