DISCARDED NEEDLES NO HIV DANGER

Re: July 19 article "Neighbours needled by addicts" needs clarification.

- - The AIDS Vancouver Island Needle Exchange opened 13 years ago in 1989
(not in February 2002 as reported).

- - The purpose of the needle exchange is to reduce the many harms associated
with injection drug use such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C by providing
services that promote healthier choices.

- - Needle users are requested to return used syringes, in exchange for clean
syringes. Our statistics show this is working. For example, for every 100
syringes we give out, drug users return 104.

- - There has not been a single documented case of HIV infection attributed
to an abandoned needle-stick injury to date, anywhere in the world. This is
related to the fact that the surface blood on the part of the abandoned
needle that punctures the skin contains dead HIV, as the virus dies within
moments of exposure to the air. Inside the needle, however, HIV may still
live -- that's why abandoned needles should not be used to inject substances.

- - In medical care settings, HIV has been transmitted through needle-stick
injuries where contact was made with live blood on the needle surface. The
greatest risks related to abandoned needle stick injuries are other less
lethal bacterial, viral, and/or fungal infections (i.e. tetanus).

- - Calgary and more recently Edmonton have developed a Yellow Box Program
for dealing with used syringes. AVI and others are working with the city of
Victoria to see if this program could be utilized in Victoria.

In June, AVI noticed an increase in the number of syringes being discarded
and called neighbours, organizations and different levels of government
together to discuss the situation. The goal of the newly formed working
group is to develop solutions that would increase health and safety for all
in our community.

Miki Hansen,

Executive director,

AIDS Vancouver Island.