Needle-sharing problem grew after fixed exchange closed, researchers say
By BILL CLEVERLEY, Timescolonist.com
Sharing of dirty needles by Victoria's injection-drug users increased substantially after the city's only fixed needle exchange closed in 2008, according to a study by the University of Victoria's Centre for Addictions Research of B.C.
And rates of needle sharing — a practice that contributes to the spread hepatitis C and HIV — have remained significantly higher in Victoria than Vancouver over the past three years, researchers say.
"There's more reusing of needles as well. So people are using the same needle over and over again, which poses a number of other health problems like abscesses," said study co-author Andrew Ivsins, a UVic graduate student.
Overall, participants in Victoria reported sharing needles more often than those in Vancouver, where there are several fixed needle exchanges. Needle sharing increased in Victoria to 23 per cent in late 2009 from 10 per cent in early 2008. Rates of needle sharing in Vancouver remained below 11 per cent over the same period.
"I think this should be of great concern to anyone who has worries about public health in our city," said Victoria Coun. Philippe Lucas.
"I think it's high time for our city to have all the different communities — the business community, health officials and our city — work together toward the re-establishment of an effective, well-run needle exchange, but certainly to move toward a safe injection site as the ultimate goal in order to address public health and public disorder."
The findings come from a sample of up to 160 illicit-drug users in Vancouver and Victoria who have been surveyed every six months since the fall of 2007.
Researchers say the needle sharing can be explained by the closing in May 2008 of Victoria's only fixed needle exchange.
The number of needles distributed monthly dropped substantially after the exchange closed to about 30,000 a month from 45,000.
The exchange on Cormorant Street was closed after ongoing complaints from neighbours about public disturbances and hazards. Mobile needle-exchange services have been provided since that time.
The study also found a substantially higher proportion of frequent drug injectors (people who inject drugs at least once daily) in Victoria compared with Vancouver (89 per cent versus 29 per cent of those surveyed).
Several other differences between the two cities were noted:
n In Victoria, both marijuana and cocaine use has been decreasing while ecstasy use has been increasing. Use of the same substances in Vancouver has not changed significantly.
n In Vancouver, use of crystal meth has been decreasing whereas methadone and crack use has been increasing. In Victoria, use of crystal meth, methadone and crack has not changed significantly.
The report, called Drug Use Trends in Victoria and Vancouver, recommends reinstating at least one fixed-site needle exchange in Victoria along with mobile exchanges as part of a comprehensive range of services. It also calls for immediate abolishment of the current no-go zone for mobile distribution of needles in downtown Victoria so that they can be distributed where most needed.
Lucas, a research affiliate with CARBC who also sits on its board of directors, agreed with the recommendations, which he called "part of an evidence-based approach to deal with these issues.
"I think what we see [from the findings is] that we certainly didn't solve any problems by closing down our needle exchange. In fact, the evidence suggests that the problems that these public health initiatives were directly created to address — the needle sharing that leads to the spread of HIV, AIDS and hep C — has gone up significantly," Lucas said.
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
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