Pubdate: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 Source: Herald, The (UK) Copyright: 2005 The Herald Contact: http://www.theherald.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/189 Author: Lucy Adams, Home Affairs Correspondent Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) NEEDLE EXCHANGE AT POLICE STATIONS OFFICERS are planning to offer free needle exchanges in police stations to try to reduce drug related deaths in Scotland. Figures show that last year there was a significant increase in drug related deaths in the Strathclyde police area, despite ministerial pledges to tackle the issue. Though the number of deaths appears to be dropping this year, police and drug action teams believe offering clean needles to addicts who have been held in police custody could help to further reduce the problem. Currently those arrested by Strathclyde police have their dirty needles confiscated, raising concerns that this is likely to increase the spread of HIV and hepatitis The police policy of confiscating needles was blamed for rising levels of HIV cases in Scotland in the 1980s. Since then a number of forces have reviewed their approach. Figures show that in 2004 there were 179 drug related deaths in Strathclyde compared with about 156 the previous year. So far this year there have been 63 compared with 109 in the same period last year. Drug related deaths in Strathclyde make up the majority of those in the country. The national figures, which increased last year, will be released by the Scottish Executive at the end of this month. They are expected to show there were approximately 300 drugs deaths in 2004. Superintendent Alistair McKie of Strathclyde police said joint working between the police and drug action teams has since helped to reduce the problem. "We are not condoning the taking of drugs, but in terms of harm reduction we have to be aware of the health implications," he said. "We are considering needles exchanges in police stations. Reducing the number of drug related deaths is a constant battle and although the figures are down this year we can not be complacent . . . 63 drugs deaths is still 63 too many." At a conference last week on drug related deaths Hugh Henry, the deputy justice minister, said he would consider the issue of the Naloxone pill, an antidote to help users recover from overdoses. Experts also called for safer injecting rooms for homeless people and for heroin prescribing as ways of reducing fatalities, but ministers have not agreed to this. Dr David Shewan, an expert in drug addiction at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: "This is a good idea and in the long term should help to reduce drug related deaths and the risk of spreading Hepatitis C. But it needs to be carefully monitored to ensure it does not increase the risk of overdose." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake