Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jun 2015
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2015 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://www.herald.ns.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Andrew Rankin

NEEDLE USE, HEPATITIS CASES SPIKE IN C.B.

The numbers are alarming.

The Ally Centre of Cape Breton's needle exchange program served 
nearly five times as many young men and women during the 2014-15 
fiscal year as it did in 2013-14.

"It's pretty startling," said Christine Porter, executive director of 
the Sydney-based organization.

"But we're seeing increased numbers every year, regardless. More than 
623,000 syringes left this building last year, which is 140,000 more 
than (the previous year). Every year, we're seeing major, major 
increases in the numbers of syringes that leave here."

Rather than recording the actual number of people accessing the 
program, the centre maintains a record of male and female drop-ins.

Over the 2014-15 fiscal year, the number of visits by men between the 
ages of 18 and 28 accessing the needle exchange program was 434, up 
from 97 in the previous year. Visits by women in the same age group 
amounted to 173, up from 29.

"On the one hand, it's great that people are accessing clean needles, 
but we're seeing more overdoses," Porter said.

"We are seeing growing rates of hepatitis C.

"Cape Breton has the highest rate of hepatitis C in Nova Scotia, and 
the highest rates of overdose in Nova Scotia are in Cape Breton. 
People have to become aware of these things."

She says Ally Centre exists for the vulnerable, who might otherwise 
put themselves in grave danger with used syringes.

"Our goal is to prevent disease and accessing a clean needle is the 
first step. We're not going to let someone walk away if they're 
looking for a clean needle. Harm reduction, it saves lives.

"We're not promoting drug use, we're promoting health among drug 
users. Everyone deserves that right to be healthy."

She says work has been done to deal with the issue.

In April, a methadone clinic was established at the centre; it's open 
every Monday.

Another clinic, New Horizons, has since been opened on Charlotte Street.

But it's not enough.

"There are also folks that aren't seeking recovery," Porter said. 
"That's where the whole community should come in. We shouldn't be the 
only ones doing harm reduction. There should be clean needles 
available at hospital emergency rooms, other community outreach groups.

"We're looking after people in the throes of addiction. They need 
help and they need guidance. Accessing a needle exchange is a very 
small step moving toward a greater goal."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom