Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2015
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Joe Fiorito
Page: ST2

THE PIERCING DAMAGE OF CUTS TO NEEDLE EXCHANGES

Queen St., just west of Dufferin, outlines a sharp edge of roughness in 
my neighbourhood; here, you watch where you step. On a recent morning, I 
found evidence of hard drinking on the sidewalk - use your imagination; 
evidence of hard sex - use your imagination; and evidence of hard 
partying, in the form of a forlorn scarf of blue feathers fluttering on 
the pavement. I was on my way to the community health centre where there 
is evidence of much that is good in Parkdale: a free dental clinic; the 
help of various physicians, social workers, physiotherapists; and 
specific care for things such as diabetes or sore feet. And a needle 
exchange. I was not there to exchange needles.

I was there because last spring - and I don't know how this slipped
under my radar - Toronto Public Health stopped funding the needle
exchange outreach program.

TPH apparently prefers to spend certain kinds of money on specific
projects, rather than long-term programs. Oh, I am not interested in
the reasoning.

I was curious to find out how things had been going in the aftermath
of the cut. I was met at Parkdale CHC by Natalie Kallio and Bronwyn
Underhill. They showed me the harm reduction office, a couple of small
rooms off the entrance, with signs on the wall offering information
about drug use and the prevention of disease.

They pointed out that it's not as if the need for a needle exchange
has diminished; from April through December of last year, the Parkdale
CHC distributed some 85,000 crack pipes and needles.

This is harm reduction at its finest. If you have doubts about this at
a human level, let me tell you that it makes sense at the economic
level: to treat a person with HIV, over the course of a lifetime,
costs roughly $1.3 million. Natalie said, "Compare that to 85,000
needles at a couple of cents a pop."

In other words, no comparison at all.

And what about the exchange part of the needle exchange program?
Natalie said, "Ninety per cent of what we hand out comes back to us."
So, harm reduction is working. But the change in funding has put a
crimp on the amount of outreach being done, and that's tricky.

Bronwyn said, "People who don't know about the program aren't going to
know where to come. If we can't do outreach, how will they find out?"

Natalie said, "There are psychological barriers, and physical
barriers, to people coming here; we used to be able to take bikes
around the catchment area."

How big is that area? She said, "From Bloor to the lake, and from
Dovercourt to Parkside."

A lot of feather boas on a lot of sidewalks.

But there are other, more compelling reasons to do outreach, Natalie
said, "There was a woman in an apartment dying of AIDS; outreach staff
were able to make visits, drop needles off and pick them up."

Natalie said, "There could be someone like her out there now who is
re-using needles; if so, that person is vulnerable to cotton fever,
endocarditis, osteomyelitis."

These are horrific illnesses, especially if you are already ill. And
then Bronwyn reminded me of one of the endearing characteristics of my
neighbourhood:

"A lot of our clients asked what they could do - they are trying to
pitch in, to pick up supplies and deliver them, to tell us who's not
doing well." I do so love my Parkdale. The CHC will soon be seeking
funding to train staff at other agencies in the neighbourhood about
drug use and needle exchange. I guess it's better than nothing. But
it's not as good as outreach.
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MAP posted-by: Matt