Needle exchange scare stories don't wash
Distributing drug paraphernalia does not increase narcotic use
By Mark Haden, Special to Times ColonistMarch 19, 2010
http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Needle+exchange+scare+stories+wash/2700625/story.html
I run the needle exchange service in the Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood of Vancouver. Vancouver Coastal Health provides a variety of health services to the community at Pacific Spirit.
The article "VIHA ponders handing out needles, crack pipes at addiction centre" (March 17) caused me to reflect on our history, as we had all of the same concerns expressed about our centre.
Our needle-exchange service has been in place for more than six years and I can honestly say that we have never had any of our fears materialize.
It's a common misperception that needle exchanges cause problems or enable drug use. This misperception is rooted in our discomfort, as a society, with both needles and illicit drug use.
Yet being uncomfortable shouldn't make us closed to common sense -- which in this case means looking at evidence and experience.
The research evidence tells us that needle exchanges save health-care dollars and lives by preventing the spread of HIV. It has also been proven that having needles available does not increase drug use. In fact, just the opposite has been found: Needle exchange programs help people get treatment.
My experience is that multiple health services can be offered in the same building successfully and that linking needle-exchange and addiction treatment can be beneficial.
In Vancouver, we have successfully integrated harm-reduction services into the Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre without any of the problems suggested in the article.
Our health clinic sees parents come in with babies, youth come in for speech and language services and people with addictions come in for counselling and needle-exchange services. All of these groups use the building without any problems.
Our speech and language parents and youth have never complained or shown any distress and no addiction services client has ever blamed a relapse on being "triggered" by the needle-exchange service or signs. All staff hand out needles without issue.
We have witnessed very marginalized clients come to access our needle exchange and then get connected to addiction-recovery services and do well.
Perhaps the reality is different than the article suggests. Perhaps people who use our needle exchange services are "triggered" by seeing the door open to recovery. When they are ready to take that positive health step, they know us already and that we welcome them.
Victoria is presented with a tremendous opportunity to provide services that will both benefit the community and save health care dollars. Please don't pass up on this chance to help so many because of unfounded fears.
Mark Haden is clinical supervisor for addiction services with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. He has worked in alcohol and drug programs since 1984, and has published articles on drug policy issues in the Canadian Journal of Public Health and the International Journal of Drug Policy.
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