Pubdate: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 Source: Terrace Standard (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Terrace Standard Contact: http://www.terracestandard.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1329 Author: Dustin Quezada GROUP WANTS NEEDLE EXCHANGE TAKEN ON THE ROAD A COALITION of health and social workers here wants to create a mobile needle exchange unit, saying the courthouse and social services offices are too close to the health unit where the exchange program is now housed. Although the number of needles being exchanged is rising, Terrace Women's Centre co-ordinator Frances Birdsell says a mobile unit in a van would be used by more people. "We have to find out how harm reduction practices can best be delivered," Birdsell said. "I think a mobile unit is the best way to go." She described the courthouse and social services offices as 'systemic barriers' to people who use the exchange. The exchange offers clients sterilized water, bandages, alcohol rub, cotton, needles and syringes, male and female condoms, educational material and immunizations for those who qualify. Birdsell was joined by Jeannette Anderson and Doug Sandwell, managers with Northwest Addiction Services, and by public health nurse Nancy Dhaliwal in late September to draw up the proposal that was submitted to the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting in Vancouver Sept. 24-28. "There was an opportunity for funding through the UBCM and we acted upon it because of interest (in the area)," said Birdsell of the group that also includes the Terrace city health task force. The city"s collaboration was a requirement in order for the pilot project to be considered for money. Birdsell said councillor Stew Christensen responded to the coalition's September plea to pass a resolution to support the expression of interest. Anderson said the project is in its infancy and therefore details and operational specifics are not yet required. "Is it a need? That's what we're trying to identify," Anderson said, adding a dialogue with the community is still needed. What the coalition has identified is a growing number of visits over last year at the public health needle exchange. Dhaliwal, who works at the Skeena health unit's needle exchange two days a week, said in July 2005 there were 1,125 visitors compared to 913 in July 2004, a 23 per cent jump. From 1998 until last year, the clinic was only open for 30 minutes every Friday. Though it's now officially open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Dhaliwal said that's not even enough. "It's pretty much a drop-in (centre)," Dhaliwal said. "People just come whenever." The program previously gave one needle per visitor but now hands out an unlimited number of needles in its harm reduction approach. On one recent afternoon, in just 20 minutes, four clients took with them 700 needles. In 2003, the exchange was moved to Mills Memorial Hospital but Dhaliwal said it proved to be a dismal failure. The move lasted just six months. "We need to take the service to the clients that can't access it," said Anderson, adding the proposed mobile unit would service Kitsumkalum, Kitselas, Usk, Lakelse Lake and Thornhill. "If you reduce the risk, you reduce the strain on other facilities," Anderson added. "If you reduce (the number of infected people) by one, it causes a ripple effect. Anyone who develops Hepatitis C and HIV puts a strain on the system." According to the most recent statistics from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, out of 16 definable regions, the northwest witnessed the biggest percentage increase in HIV cases between 2003 and 2004. Dhaliwal said unlike other diseases, Hepatitis C and HIV are preventable. "They just have to have clean needles," Dhaliwal said. In the grant application, the city has grouped the mobile needle proposal with requests for money for a seniors' study and a health task force report. Two city councillors stopped at the needle exchange in Prince George recently and one said he was shocked at the number of young people using it. Rich McDaniel, speaking at the Oct. 24 council meeting, said Terrace has an injection problem but not to the same extent as the one in Prince George. "I don't know and don't understand the shooting up end of it ... but we have to protect the people who are doing it and try to encourage them to come off," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)