GREATER RISK FROM AIDS THAN FROM NEEDLES

When it comes to preventing the spread of infectious diseases in prisons,
Ottawa and the provinces are like petulant children sticking their fingers
in their ears to block out the truth.

But the more they try to muffle common sense, the more serious the
consequences of their failure to act.

This week, in a disturbing report, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
pointed out that the incidence of HIV/AIDS in federal prisons has increased
by more than 35% since 1996.

Six years ago there were 159 reported cases of HIV/AIDS in federal jails.
By 2000, that number had climbed to 217.

The hepatitis C prevalence is even higher. According to the report, 20% to
80% of prisoners have hepatitis C, compared with less than one per cent of
the general population.

But the federal and provincial governments haven't had the courage to
respond with comprehensive harm-reduction measures.

Governments continue to ignore the advice of health professionals who
advocate needle exchange programs in prisons.

The same old objections are raised time after time. Prisoners could use
needles as weapons. Needle exchanges promote drug use.

Both the Alberta government and the union that represents prison guards
feel needles are a safety risk.

But that has not been the case with needle distribution programs in
European jails.

As the network report notes, European studies have shown that needle
exchanges reduce the spread of infection, do not lead to increased drug use
and pose no risk to the safety of prison staff.

We are progressive enough to operate needle exchange programs in various
communities across the country. We obviously care about curbing the spread
of infection in our cities. We just don't care about the addicts behind bars.

That's mighty short-sighted, considering prisoners are released from jail
every day.

"Some jurisdictions have totally and abysmally failed to wake up to the
reality of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and injection drug use in prisons," says
network executive-director Ralf Jurgens.

In the group's series of report cards comparing harm-reduction approaches
in various jurisdictions, Alberta received one of the worst scores - only
three points out of a possible 30.

While the Alberta prison system provides condoms and lubricants to adult
inmates, bleach and sterile syringes are not available.

(To be fair, no prisons in Canada provide clean needles.)

Also, methadone is only available to drug-addicted prisoners who were
already being treated when they entered the Alberta prison system. And they
only get methadone for a month.

Afterwards, prisoners are placed on medically supervised withdrawal
programs using alternative treatment, according to the provincial Solicitor
General's Department.

The ministry also maintains that withdrawal programs offered to inmates are
consistent with treatment provided to ordinary Albertans.

But Dr. Stanley Houston, director of the northern Alberta HIV program, says
the province's approach is ridiculous.

There are no drugs that are "even remotely comparable" to methadone for
opiate-addicted prisoners, he says.

And methadone is meant to be a long-term treatment for people with serious
addictions. Pulling prisoners off methadone after a month simply doesn't
make sense, he adds.

"Their response is ideological, not scientific," Houston says.

He's immensely frustrated that some critics believe proponents of harm
reduction support drug use.

"We're passionately in favour of getting people off drugs," he emphasizes.

But just telling prisoners not to inject is irresponsible, he says.

Logic suggests the best harm-reduction initiatives should be available to
people at the highest risk of infection - inmates.

The writing is on the wall.

Governments will continue to stall.

And prison disease rates will soar.