NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM BEGINS IN ST. JOHNSBURY

ST. JOHNSBURY -- A needle exchange program has been started in the
Northeast Kingdom despite heated public debate about it.

Vermont CARES' Northeast Kingdom office in St. Johnsbury began distributing
needles, intended for intravenous drug users, Monday with little fanfare or
fuss.

Citing confidentiality, program specialist Penni Cleverley would not say
how many, if any, people had signed up for the program.

Vermont CARES has provided needle-cleaning kits, though not needles, for
many years.

By Vermont statute, any needle-exchange program must disclose in aggregate
form to the Department of Health the number of program users as well as
their dates of birth and gender.

Cleverley said the needle-exchange program was a way to keep people safe
from disease. AIDS, hepatitis and other diseases contracted through needle
sharing are a drain on the taxpayer-funded public health care system, she said.

Moreover, program workers at Vermont CARES might be able to steer addicts
into substance abuse programs.

"It is not up to us to judge morally; addiction is a disease," Cleverley said.

Even if some St. Johnsbury residents might disagree with that, Cleverley
said public opposition would not halt the needle-exchange program.

"We are legal," she said.

Green Mountain Needle Co-op has run a needle exchange program in Burlington
for a year. The co-op is open for a two-hour period once a week when needle
users can pick up new, free syringes. For more information call 860-3567.