IHA TAKING NEEDLE SAFETY HOME TO THE CHILDREN

Whether one likes it or not, drug usage affects everyone.

So the answer to the problem may well be in convincing the young to
not take them in the first place.

"Drug addiction has to be looked at as a health problem," said Nora
Walker, a communicable disease consultant with the Interior Health Authority.

She was speaking during a presentation in 100 Mile House council
chambers this week, outlining some of the challenges and possible
solutions to the issue of drug usage that affects virtually every
community in the province.

"It's a very complex problem," admitted Walker. "Every addict has a
story. One thing we know for sure is that 12 per cent of the budget
goes to prevent people from starting using drugs."

Walker also noted the financial strain fighting against drug use is
considerable. Thus, a school education program and spring clean-up
programs have been instituted in an effort to prevent the problem
before it even gets started.

"Kids want to feel they belong," said Walker. "For some families,
putting their kids into things like minor soccer or hockey is simply
too expensive. But there's always someone waiting for them after
school to welcome them to the drug club. Our challenge is to find
ways to enable our children to say no to joining that club. For poor
people, drugs are the most affordable recreation they have."

Many times ignorance is part of the problem, too.

"Sometimes people think if they've had a Hep B immunization shot it
will protect them from Hep C, as well. But that is not so," said
Walker. "Home-made

tattooing can be a problem, especially if they are sharing needles.
Commercial businesses have a one-use per needle policy and that
helps. Home use is the target for us."

If ignorance is the problem, then it stands to reason that education
is a large part of the solution.

"If you can get to kids early, they learn lots," said Walker. "That
is so important."

To that end, the province has created a seven-foot tall mascot called
Sir Ringe.

The mascot's job is to go around to various schools throughout the
province talking about needle safety.

Sir Ringe explains legitimate uses for needles and also tells
children they should never pick up a needle or play with one.

Sir Ringe also explains the proper procedure to safely dispose of a
needle: wear leather or rubber gloves when picking up a needle and,
whenever possible, use tongs.

Hold the tip of the needle away from you, and then place the needle
in a rigid, sealable container and place in household trash.

If one doesn't have the proper equipment, children should not pick up
syringes; rather they should immediately tell an adult about what
they have found.