Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Dylan Rovere NEEDLE EXCHANGE CLOSURE HURTS CITY I have noticed some unfortunate changes since the Cormorant Street needle exchange closed its doors to our community's most vulnerable citizens. The most noticeable of these changes is the proliferation of used needles along the prescribed route of the mobile needle exchange vehicle. Over the past couple of weeks, the flowerbeds in front of the gym where I exercise have become a daily depository of discarded hypos. The needles are not just a nuisance; they are a potentially deadly biohazard. It is unreasonable to expect that addicts will return their used needles when we make it difficult for them to access the required services. This of course says nothing of the human cost involved in relegating the sick and desperate to the shadows in an attempt to cleanse downtown of our visible failures as a community. Dylan Rovere Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake