Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jan 2003 Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, OSPREY MEDIA GROUP INC. Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332 Author: Jeremy Ashley DRUG ADDICTS TRADE IN USED SYRINGES Local News - A downtown pharmacy has handed out, on average, 11 needles per day to local drug addicts since the introduction of a syringe exchange program six weeks ago. Malcolm Jones, a pharmacist with the Shopper's Drug Mart on Front Street, told the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Board of Health, Friday, that almost 500 used syringes have been traded for new, sterile needles since the Needle Exchange Program was introduced into the downtown core close to six weeks ago. And, more needles are expected to be doled out to area drug addicts as 10 more exchange sites throughout Hastings and Prince Edward counties become functional over the next couple of weeks, explained Marsha Olinski, Sexual Health Co-ordinator for the Health Unit. The program, which falls under the umbrella of the health unit's Harm Reduction Task Force, is geared to help cut down the number of blood-borne diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C by allowing injection drug users to anonymously turn in used needles for sterile syringes. The task force, which was formed locally several years ago, began looking at implementing a needle exchange program after a new requirement was handed down to local health units by the Ministry of Health in 1998 that stated the "board of health shall ensure that injection drug users can have access to sterile injection equipment by the provision of needle and syringe exchange programs as a harm reduction strategy to prevent the transmission of... blood borne infections and associated diseases where drug use is recognized as a problem in the community." Olinski said the task force began studying the issue in December 1998, which included consultation with a number of community-based groups and an extensive telephone survey, to establish a needs assessment for Hastings and Prince Edward counties. Methods considered to provide the service ranged from using fixed sites, such as pharmacies, to paying drug addicts through a "peer outreach program" in which they would seek out fellow users to exchange needles. Officials decided to utilize 12 pharmacies throughout both counties as fixed sites. Public health nurse Marie Clarke took over the presentation to say the needle exchange program is not only necessary to help prevent the spread of disease -- 70 per cent of hepatitis C transmissions in Canada is due to injection drug use, according to Health Canada -- but also to introduce alternatives to the drug addicts. "With non-judgmental contact with the individual... presents an opportunity to the drug user to learn about services offered in the community," to help their addition, she said. There is also a "code of confidentiality" associated with pharmacy workers because they deal with sensitive information daily, such as health records -- which is also reassuring to drug users, Clarke added. "This is a very big issue... people want to know that their identity is safe. Also, the hours of operation are usually well known among the community." However, Clarke noted that health unit officials will be tracking general information about the drug users -- such as age and sex -- in order to compile an accurate picture of approximately how many are in the community. Due to lack of current data regarding the demographic of injection drug users, Clarke said "we had to predict the number of injection drug users to be anywhere between 350 and 400," for the region. Also, the Quinte region is location "on the (Highway) 401 corridor between Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto," which makes it a hub for illicit drug activity. When judging how many supplies to give to each pharmacy, Clarke said officials "based a lot of our projections on (a needle exchange program in) Peterborough." Start-up costs for the program have already been covered, Clarke added, because "this is not a new program... just a new activity." Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy added that the health unit will be "monitoring costs very closely" as the program begins to move into full-time operation across both counties. "Our hope," concluded Clarke, "is that it will bring people back in touch with resources to bring them closer to abstinence." For more information about the Needle Exchange Program, call 966-5513, ext. 263, or call collect at 0-613-966-5500 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and ask for ext. 263. Here is a list of the pharmacies participating in the program within the catchment of the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit: * Bancroft Pharmacy, 65 North Hastings St., Bancroft * Deller's IDA, 249 Victoria St. North, Tweed * Nickle's Pharmacy, 26 Forsyth St., Marmora * Johnson's Pharmacy, 36 Durham St. South, Madoc * Balu's Pharmacy 9-D Tuftsville Road, Stirling * Loyalist College, Student Health Services (for college community only), Wallbridge-Loyalist Road, Belleville * Shopper's Drug Mart, 240 Front St., Belleville * Shopper's Drug Mart, 390 North Front St., Belleville * Pharma Plus, Trenton Town Centre, 260 Dundas St. East, Trenton * Picton Clinic Pharmacy, 389 Main St., Picton * Wellington Pharmacy, 274 Main St., Wellington - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens