CLEAN NEEDLES AVAILABLE FOR DRUG ADDICTS

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - NWT residents may be surprised to know that a
needle exchange program has been in place in the territory since 1991.

When asked, neither Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro or Mayor Gordon Van
Tighem knew the program existed, though the mayor said he assumed one
was likely operating in Yellowknife.

"I know they exist, I know what they're for, and I assumed there was
one here," said Van Tighem.

The program is a "harm reduction" measure that allows intravenous
drug users access to free needles in an attempt to thwart the spread
of transmittable diseases such as hepatitis C and HIV.

Wanda White, communicable disease specialist for the Department of
Health and Social Services, said while the program has been in place
for 18 years, it is "underutilized" by the addicted population.

She said that's unfortunate because the program is a valuable tool in
preventing diseases from spreading. Needles are available in both
Yellowknife and Inuvik.

"If we can stop a young person from getting HIV and hepatitis C, when
they stop using drugs they can really get healthy," said White.

White said there have been 376 cases of hepatitis C since the
department started recording them in 1991, adding that there have
been "40, 50 cases per year in the last few years."

HIV, though, hasn't been as prevalent.

"HIV hasn't exploded in the North as it has in other jurisdictions,"
said White.

"I don't think it reflects a low amount of high risk activity. I just
don't think HIV has gotten into the mix so far."

There have been only 35 cases of HIV reported in the NWT since the
first recorded case in 1987. White said the health department
continues to see a couple cases every year.

She said that in Canada during the mid-1990s, HIV started becoming
very apparent among intravenous drug users, whereas before it had
been most visible among the male homosexuals. It was after that that
the needle exchange program began rolling.

"The NWT, and the rest of Canada, put forward a directive to provide
clean needles whenever a request comes in," said White.

It is now a simple process for an addict to get a syringe from public
health officials at the Jan Stirling Centre on Franklin Ave.

"You just present yourself to Public Health and request them and they
give them to you, no questions asked," said White.

She said she didn't have any information on how many needles are given out.

City councillor Lydia Bardak, who is a member of the Community
Service Patrol -- a team of volunteers who give "safe, friendly, free
cab rides" to intoxicated or homeless people -- said she has heard of
the needle exchange program but doesn't "think of it as a program.
It's not something that's promoted."

She told Yellowknifer that although there is a problem with
intravenous drug use in Yellowknife, it is not as evident here as it
is in other places in Canada.

"In the last two or three years there has been a steady increase (in
IV drug use), but I don't see it on the streets," said Bardak.

"I've walked through the streets of Vancouver and the needles are
very evident."

In Vancouver, used needles littering alleys and parks led to a major
public health concern.

Bardak said she has spoken with people she knows who work regularly
with addicts, and there is one place in town where she knows needles
have been found discarded.

"There is a hidden park in the trees off Frame Lake trail where
needles have been found," said Bardak.

"Not the one by the pool, but there's an abandoned park on the rocks
off the trail."

Bardak said while the needle exchange program is valuable in curbing
the spread of disease, drug use itself is "a fatal disease" and
efforts should be concentrated on preventing addiction.

"We have to beef up preventative measures and stop kids from wanting
to start doing drugs," she said.