NEEDLE-SHARING PROBLEM GREW AFTER FIXED EXCHANGE CLOSED, RESEARCHERS SAY

Sharing of dirty needles by Victoria's injection-drug users increased
substantially after the city's only fixed needle exchange closed in
2008, according to a study by the University of Victoria's Centre for
Addictions Research of B.C.

And rates of needle sharing - a practice that contributes to the
spread of hepatitis C and HIV - have remained significantly higher in
Victoria than Vancouver over the past three years, researchers say.

"There's more reusing of needles as well. So people are using the same
needle over and over again, which poses a number of other health
problems like abscesses," said study co-author Andrew Ivsins, a UVic
graduate student.

Overall, participants in Victoria reported sharing needles more often
than those in Vancouver, where there are several fixed needle
exchanges. Needle sharing increased in Victoria to 23 per cent in late
2009 from 10 per cent in early 2008. Rates of needle sharing in
Vancouver remained below 11 per cent over the same period.

"I think this should be of great concern to anyone who has worries
about public health in our city," said Victoria Coun. Philippe Lucas,
a research affiliate with CARBC who also sits on its board of directors,

"I think it's high time for our city to have all the different
communities - the business community, health officials and our city -
work together toward the reestablishment of an effective, well-run
needle exchange, but certainly to move toward a safe injection site as
the ultimate goal in order to address public health and public disorder."

The findings come from a sample of up to 160 illicit-drug users in
Vancouver and Victoria who have been surveyed every six months since
the fall of 2007.

Researchers say the needle sharing can be explained by the closing in
May 2008 of Victoria's only fixed needle exchange.

The number of needles distributed monthly dropped substantially after
the exchange closed to about 30,000 a month from 45,000.

The exchange on Cormorant Street was closed after ongoing complaints
from neighbours about public disturbances and hazards. Mobile
needle-exchange services have been provided since that time.

The study also found a substantially higher proportion of frequent
drug injectors (people who inject drugs at least once daily) in
Victoria compared with Vancouver (89 per cent versus 29 per cent of
those surveyed).

The report, called Drug Use Trends in Victoria and Vancouver,
recommends reinstating at least one fixed-site needle exchange in
Victoria along with mobile exchanges as part of a comprehensive range
of services. It also calls for immediate abolishment of the current
no-go zone for mobile distribution of needles in downtown Victoria so
that they can go where most needed.