Pubdate: Sat, 10 May 2008
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2008 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Author: Lindsay Thorimbert
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLES BY THE NUMBERS

Needle exchange rates in the area are on the rise,  hitting about 
600,000 in 2007.

"Approximately 600,000 both in and out," said Doug  Dahl, 
communications co-ordinator for the Prince Albert  Parkland Health 
Region. "It's been going up a little  bit."

This is the number of syringes distributed and  collected by the 
health region in the 2007 needle  exchange program.

In 2006, there were more than 500,000 needles exchanged  by the health region.

These numbers include needles received through the  Sexual Health 
Clinic as well as needle collection bins.

The return rate for needles distributed by the health  region is 
about 100 per cent, said Dahl. However,  needles can be purchased in 
many locations throughout  the city.

"Needles go for about 10 cents each," said Dahl.

This puts the cost of needles alone for the 2007  exchange at around $60,000.

"We can get right down to the exact numbers," said Dahl  of the 
health region's ability to calculate the number  of needles used in 
the exchange. "I'm not sure why they  aren't done (calculations) already."

Dr. Leo Lanoie, medical health officer for the health  region, 
provided an estimate of the number of  intravenous drug users in Prince Albert.

"I would say somewhere between 300 and 500 people in  this town," said Lanoie.

He said the rate of diagnosis for hepatitis C is the  most accurate 
measure for intravenous drug use. A  similar number of people are 
diagnosed with hepatitis C  each year in Prince Albert as in 
Saskatoon or Regina,  he added.

The drug use and crime rate are closely linked, said a  police officer.

"About 80 per cent of crime is related to drugs  somehow," said Troy 
Cooper, deputy chief of the Prince  Albert City Police. "If we lay 
charges, 67 per cent of  men and 65 per cent of women are intoxicated 
on either  drugs or alcohol at the time of arrest."

Cooper added addiction is not an easy problem to tackle  and that law 
enforcement is only one part of the  solution.

The community has a big challenge ahead of it, said  Mayor Jim Scarrow.

"It's unbelievable," said Scarrow. "We have two  problems in Prince 
Albert and they're both addictions -  one is alcohol, and one is drugs."

But he predicted a better future.

"I think as our society moves forward, there's going to  be a younger 
group who will be better educated about  the use of drugs."

As a solution to addictions, Scarrow pointed to an  education system 
that is equipping children with the  skills to fight addiction, and 
to a number of  organizations that help individuals recover from  addiction.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom