NEEDLED INTO ACTION

Abbotsford Has One of the Highest Rates of Hepatitis C in the Province.

One of the most common ways hep C is contracted is through the use of
shared needles by drug users.

This city has a zoning bylaw that prohibits "harm reduction"
facilities such as safe injection sites and needle exchanges.

Could there be a correlation between those facts?

Dr. John Farley, a local infectious disease specialist, would likely say yes.

He was among speakers at a rally in Abbotsford Tuesday which focused
attention on this city's restrictive policies relating to the spread
of disease through shared needles.

Abbotsford passed its anti-harm reduction bylaw five years ago, with
the view that such services would attract more drug users to the community.

It's a common, but antiquated, philosophy that extends to a multitude
of social issues surrounding society's cast-offs.

Denial of key social services such as drug treatment and
rehabilitation programs, homeless shelters, food programs, needle
exchanges and other harm reduction initiatives, does not result in
the magical disappearance of street people and drug users in a community.

Such policies do result, however, in a major draw upon public health
services, to say nothing of increased human suffering.

Over the years, Abbotsford has managed to put aside a number of old
stereotypes and attitudes in this respect, recognizing the need and
benefits of helping those with mental illness and substance abuse issues.

Yet something so simple and effective as a formal needle exchange
program remains on the "no-go" list.

Time for one more step up onto the high road.