NEEDLE EXCHANGE REVIEW SHOWS SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health today released the report on the review of needle exchange programs in Saskatchewan which shows that while the program overall has assisted in reducing the spread of blood-borne disease, there needs to be improvements made in areas like clean-up, increased accountability and disposal of discarded needles.

Needle exchange programs are shown to have resulted in a reduction of new cases of HIV and subsequent savings in health care costs. Needle exchange programs are designed to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases among injection drug users and ultimately reduce the risk of transmission to the general public. Clean needles are given for every injection, with the intent of reducing the sharing of used, possibly contaminated, needles. The program is based on exchanging clean needles for used ones.

"I am pleased that there has been a thorough review of the needle exchange program and we know we have work to do now to make some improvements that will address the concerns of our communities around discarded needles," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "We know it's important to protect the health of all our residents from diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C, while also ensuring public safety."

"We know that Saskatchewan has been fortunate at keeping the spread of HIV due to injection drug use low compared to the rest of Canada, however new infections have climbed recently making it vitally important to continue with a strong harm reduction program," Provincial Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Moira McKinnon said.

A provincial steering committee has been formed to direct the next steps, which will happen in stages. Phase one will include enhanced education and the creation of a strong strategy for clean-up and disposal of used needles such as increasing the number of drop boxes. Local committees will be established that will guide community efforts with an emphasis on a targeted clean-up blitz during spring thaw.

"I am pleased to see that this report addresses concerns I had raised previously around discarded needles in the community and I look forward to being involved in local efforts to create an appropriate strategy for our city," Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill said.

Phase two will explore opportunities to increase accountability of the program through enhanced monitoring, including mechanisms for better tracking of the needles distributed through the use of registries and methods of identifying needle exchange needles.
The provincial steering committee will include medical health officers (MHOs) and will be chaired by Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Officer of Health. MHOs will be consulting with intersectoral partners in their communities such as fire chiefs and police on local plans for needle clean-up and disposal.

McMorris requested an independent review of Saskatchewan's needle exchange program to ensure that the program was meeting its objectives and was accountable.

The six-month review was conducted by Laurence Thompson Strategic consulting. A copy of the full report is available on the Ministry of Health website at http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/needle-exchange-review.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: karen.hill@gov.sk.ca