Pubdate: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627 Author: Yvonne Bendo Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) EXCHANGE WORKING More Needles Being Turned In An increase in the use of the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit's needle exchange program doesn't necessarily translate into more local drug users, says Dr. David Colby. The municipality's acting medical officer of health credits the program's ambassador whom he calls an "unsung hero" for public health. "That ambassador we have for the needle exchange program has a great deal of trust and credibility in the at-risk sector of our community," Colby said. "My opinion is that person is doing such a good job and has succeeded in bringing more and more people in the at-risk population to the needle exchange program." In 2006, there were 92,188 needles handed out and 96,601 returned. That's higher than the 69,450 distributed and 83,957 collected in the previous year and substantially more than the 35,517 needles distributed and 44,288 collected in 2001. For Marjorie Crew, a new health board member and founding member of East Side Pride, those numbers translate into safer streets for her neighbours and children. "It's a big public health issue," she said, of the need for the program. "It's to stop the spread of disease and to prevent the needles from being left on sidewalks, in the parks and into the hands of our children or on the streets where someone can accidentally puncture themselves and accidentally become a victim." She added a needle prick can bring a threat of exposure to HIV/AIDs or other diseases. "We've picked up a lot of needles over the years," Crew said, adding "it's rare now that we will find one or get a call from a neighbour that there's one." As a lawyer and new health board member, Tom McGregor noted for some people there's a "moral dilemma" in offering the needle exchange program. "You almost appear to be promoting some sort of illegal activity," he said, adding some may believe this program aids in drug use. But he noted that's not the case. "It's important that we get the message out . . . It's to protect the children and the parks and streets." Colby also noted the program helps to prevent the spread of disease among drug users who might otherwise share their drugs, or from spreading diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis to their family and friends. Colby said HIV is spreading fastest among illegal drug users. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman