Pubdate: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 Source: Hume Leader (Australia) Contact: http://hume-leader.whereilive.com.au/contact/ Copyright: 2009 News Community Media Website: http://hume-leader.whereilive.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5101 Author: Julia Adler Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SYRINGES A LIFESAVER: STUDY SYRINGE exchange services have saved more than the lives of Hume drug users, a national economic study reveals. A Department of Health study has revealed Hume's health-care system has saved an estimated $3 million since 2000 because of a reduction in forecast HIV and hepatitis C infections. Association for Prevention and Harm Reduction Programs Australia chief executive John Ryan said the savings were due to the availability of clean syringes for intravenous drug users. "For every dollar invested in providing sterile syringes, the public saves at least $4 in health care costs in the short-term and much more over the long run," Mr Ryan said. Within the past nine years, 33,201,105 syringes were handed out across Melbourne's northern and western suburbs, saving more than $91 million in health-care costs. He said Victorian drug users had one of the lowest HIV infection rates in the world but hepatitis C infection was an issue. Youth Projects chairwoman Melanie Raymond said the statistics demonstrated that needle exchange programs were working. In a bid to improve the health and safety of drug users, Youth Projects runs a mobile needle-exchange program in Melbourne's northwest. Ms Raymond said drug safety workers hand out clean needles and paraphernalia to drug users from a car and provide information about how to inject drugs safely. - --- MAP posted-by: Doug