NEARBY NEEDLE EXCHANGES WORKING: FH

While Abbotsford's harm reduction bylaw prevents needle exchanges in
the city, Fraser Health believes that programs it funds in Chilliwack,
Surrey and New Westminster help reduce disease and health costs.

The Pacific Community Resource Society (PCRS) runs a mobile van
exchange program serving the area from Chilliwack to Boston Bar.

When it first began, it was at a fixed location but after businesses
complained it was decided to take it to the streets. It has worked
"reasonably well" and there's support in the community, said David
Portesi, Fraser Health director of health promotion and prevention.

"I would say it has been in a peaceful period the last three years,"
said Portesi.

He also noted typically PCRS gets 100 per cent return on needles,
sometimes even more because users pick up additional ones on the street.

While critics claim giving addicts clean needles for used ones enable
drug users to perpetuate their addiction, proponents believe it
reduces the spread of hepatitis C and HIV.

Portesi said HIV can cost the health care system upwards of $250,000
over the lifetime of a patient.

"The small investment in a contract that prevents exposure and
prevents infection can save the health authority quite a bit of money
over the long term," said Portesi.

He also said PCRS has also been able to point users in the right
direction to end their addiction and get life back on track.

The health authority has considered expanding PCRS' contract to
Abbotsford in the past but has balked because of the bylaw.

"That would take some extra resources that we don't have right now,
but certainly in the future if additional dollars were to become
available and this law was still in place we would likely keep our
current stance of not supporting a funded expansion into Abbotsford,"
Portesi said.

"If I had additional dollars, I'd certainly want to expand harm
reduction services including into Abbotsford, if the law would change."

There could be similar programs in other areas in the region, but they
aren't controlled by Fraser Health, although it does work with the
B.C. Centre for Disease Control to approve vendors.

Abbotsford social planning director Rueben Koole said part of the
study city council authorized on Monday is to survey surrounding
communities to see what services they have.