HEALTH COMMITTEE WANTS NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE

The Halton Region needle exchange program is set to move beyond the
pilot project stage.

The region's health and social services committee members recently
passed a motion that will see the program -- named Exchange Works --
become a permanent health department program subject to the approval
of the 2002 operating budget.

The annual Exchange Works budget is estimated at $81,000. Regional
council is expected to formally address the matter this week.

"Based on the information we have right now, we feel the program
needs to continue," Halton's Medical Health Officer, Dr. Bob Nosal,
told the committee.

"So much of this depends on the contacts and networking that takes
place and that's what has been the focus so far."

Exchange Works began operation in May, developing partnerships with
service agencies, creating educational material for injection drug
users and conducting outreach work.

Needle exchanges have also been organized at the Sexual Health
Clinics in Milton, Burlington, Acton and Georgetown, though, to date,
none have been used. Gaining trust

"It's very slow gaining the trust of users because of the illegal
nature of injection drug use," explained Denise Mousseau, Hamilton
community outreach worker and representative on the Halton Needle
Exchange Advisory Committee.

"The key to outreach is that it's client driven."

The mobile exchange service has seen substantially more success, said
Halton outreach worker Cecil McDougall. To date, 78 individuals have
used the needle exchange, 30 of which used the program more than once.

"We've made a conscious effort here in Halton to ensure we also
include those who inject steroids. The concern being that young
people might be exposed to the sharing of needles," McDougall
continued.

While the program received the support of the committee, a pair of
councillors expressed disappointment in the need to spend taxpayer
dollars for a needle exchange.

"I still have difficulty with this -- the use of taxpayer dollars and
time. I'm going to support it, but I have to tell you I definitely
have difficulty with it," said Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison.

Added Milton Councillor Richard Malboeuf, "You're not alone."