In an effort to curb the spread of blood-borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, the Fort Area Exchange is now offering a needle exchange for local intravenous drug users.
A partnership between the Northwestern Health Unit, Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, Riverside Community Counselling, and Gagne Pharmacy, used needles can be exchanged for clean ones at each of these sites.
The main focus of the program, said Ken Allan, a team leader at the health unit here, is “harm reduction,” meaning not only does the exchange aim to establish a means for intravenous drug-users to practice safety but also to get a bead on the problem and how to prevent it.
“Intravenous drug use tends to be a hidden problem. And it’s difficult to know the prevalence of it in Fort Frances until we have something like this,” Allan said.
“But we do know from a former drug user that there is intravenous drug use going on.”
Pharmacist David Schwartz of Gagne Pharmacy noted the exchange process was simple.
“Somebody could come in to the drop-off box [here] and hand over their used needles,” he explained. “In turn, I could give them some back, and we keep track of the needles handed in and those handed out.
But public health nurse Myrna Kraynyk-Cooper stressed the program was more than just the exchange of needles.
“We offer counselling support in a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental manner,” she noted. “If some day someone wants to stop doing drugs, we want to be there for them.”
Other aspects of the exchange program include free condoms, information, disease testing, and referrals.
“We’re hoping to reach out to people and make a difference in their lives,” Kraynyk-Cooper said. “We know drug users have families, and there can be a turnaround in their lives.”
“If a person wants treatment, it’s very easy to access it. And we want to educate people on that,” echoed Darlene Barrett, an addictions counsellor for Riverside.
But Todd Young, of the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre here, stressed the key to the new initiative is to make the public, and intravenous drug users, understand the program.
“We want to try and introduce it delicately,” he noted.
“There’s a good chance it will be used only as long as it is accepted,” agreed Kraynyk-Cooper.
The Fort Area Exchange (FAE) committee consists of 16 members from various groups and agencies, including people from medical, nursing, pharmacology and police fields, and individuals from district aboriginal communities.
While the program is just getting off the ground here (in conjunction with Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week), a similar one recently was organized in Sioux Lookout while another is underway in Kenora.
Those two, along with the one here, were made possible by a $38,000 grant from Health Canada.
Thunder Bay began an exchange in 1995, and now exchange up to 13,000 needles a month. Their return rate on needles is 105 percent.
The FAE reported studies have shown if interventions such as a needle exchange are in place before 10-15 percent of the population is affected, effective infectious disease control will occur.
And exchanges ultimately have proven to be cost-saving. For every dollar spent on clean supplies, $11 is saved in the health care system.
The cost of providing clean needles to a user is about $65 a year while the annual cost of caring for one person with AIDS can be up to $28,000.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
