GROUP TO INJECT FACTS ON NEEDLE EXCHANGE

With the provincial government poised to limit distribution of clean
needles to intravenous drug users, a Regina group is looking to inject
some more facts into the debate.

"The politics around needle exchange are quite hot. But the science
behind it is not very controversial. There's a lot of good research
backing up the success of needle exchanges," said Shawn Fraser,
executive director of Carmichael Outreach Centre. Among its many
programs geared to the underprivileged, Carmichael donates space for a
needle exchange program delivered by the health region.

Tonight, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Carmichael is opening its doors at
1925 Osler St. for tours followed by a discussion titled "The Truths
about Needle Exchange Programs."

Scheduled speakers are University of Regina professors Marc Spooner,
from the faculty of education, Garson Hunter, from the faculty of
social work, and a spokesperson with the Vancouver Area Network of
Drug Users, who will appear via an Internet-based phone service.

The government announced in last month's throne speech that it would
introduce changes to "limit the proliferation of needles" handed out
by needle exchanges. The government hasn't yet made clear what those
changes will entail.

That's because the Health Ministry is still gathering information,
Health Minister Don McMorris said Wednesday. While a provincially
commissioned study on needle exchange was released in February,
McMorris said there's still more to learn about who uses the
exchanges, how many get needles for others or take them to communities
that don't have the program.

"I will say that we were kind of hoping to have more work done on this
than what we have done, but it's partly because a lot of our public
health people that would be helping us on this are tied up with H1N1,"
he added.

McMorris, who has been invited to the forum, said someone from his
office and the ministry plan to attend.

Since the throne speech, a "Saskatchewan Needle Exchange Services
Support Group" has formed on Facebook and now Carmichael is hoping to
spur further discussion.

Fraser said the proposed change took Carmichael by surprise,
especially given the government's study that confirmed needle
exchanges help reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C.

"I just hate to see politics get involved with something that so
directly affects so many people's lives," he added.

The review was sparked by concerns about discarded needles littering
the ground during spring thaw. About 3.9 million needles were
distributed in the last fiscal year. Saskatchewan programs overall
have a 90 per cent return rate on needles. In Regina, which has four
exchange sites, the rate is 94 per cent. The report also noted that
since needles can be purchased in bulk at stores, many of the
discarded needles in the community likely don't come from exchange
programs. However, the report did suggest there could be improvement
in areas like clean-up, accountability and disposal.

Saskatchewan has an estimated 5,000 inject users. With most
Saskatchewan users favouring cocaine and morphine, an average user can
go through 1,000 needles per year.