NEEDLE EXCHANGE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL

Richard Clear (Letters, March 12) seems confused about needle exchange
programs and the new Know Your Status program. Hopefully, this letter will
help enlighten him and others who may be unsure of the reason these
programs have been implemented.

The needle exchange began operating in Spokane in 1991. Each year, the
number of exchangers and the number of syringes exchanged increases. The
increases result from drug users' efforts to avoid infection with Hepatitis
B or C or with HIV.

The exchange also provides education and referrals. In 2001 we referred
clients to other services more than 600 times. The fact that our clients
care about reducing the harm their addictions do to themselves, their
families and their community is demonstrated by the fact that they exchange
regularly while continuing to work toward being clean and sober.

Clear is also confused about the behavior of HIV-infected people, most of
whom are very concerned about infecting others. HIV is most often spread by
those who are unaware of their infection. The Know Your Status program
helps identify those who don't know they are infected.

Hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact, and since the
availability of testing, it is rarely spread by blood products. Through
education about risk-reduction with injection drug users, we hope to reduce
the spread of Hepatitis C as well as HIV.

Anyone with questions or concerns is invited to contact either Lisa with
the Know Your Status program (324-1547) or Lynn with the needle exchange
program (324-1549). We want the community to be aware of our programs and
the results.

Lynn Everson

Spokane, WA