PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Public Health is making an effort to keep recreational needle users safe by supplying them clean syringes for free.
To get clean syringes, the only thing required is old syringes.
When exchanging the needles, public health officials make sure they also offer information on drug rehabilitation, risk reduction education, HIV and hepatitis testing, counseling and referrals for treatment programs.
The program isn’t new, it’s just increasing in visibility.
In 2000 the program exchanged 506 syringes. In 2007, it exchanged 24,585 from 65 clinics in the county.
Representatives at the department said that the increase in exchanges has come in part from people simply becoming aware of the availability and choosing to make better decisions.
“We are seeing people coming in and doing second-hand exchanges for others as well,” said Denis Langlois, a nurse practitioner involved in the program.
“This is a very good program because it is very effective for helping with HIV prevention.”
Langlois said that the program not only helps prevent the spread of disease but also facilitates screening people for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
“We can give them information on safe practices and avoiding blood-to-blood contact, as well as offer tests and vaccines,” Langlois said.
The clinic also offers other products for individuals involved in the program.
Prevention kits include tourniquets, cookers, cottons, fresh water, containers for needles, alcohol preps, antibiotic cream and Band-Aids.
Also available are condoms and literature on preventing the spread of disease.
It is estimated that nationally, more than 50 percent of new HIV infections are among injection drug users, and most of that number results from sharing needles.
Langlois said that providing clean needles, and making people aware of the dangers, will help limit the spread of HIV in the needle-using population.
The common argument is that offering these services encourages drug use, he noted.
National studies have shown that needle exchanges do not increase their use, and does not encourage people to begin using injectable drugs, he said.
“There are several factors that make someone use drugs,” Langlois said.
“In the studies I have seen, availability is not one of them.”
The Syringe Exchange Program is at the department at 615 Sheridan St., Port Townsend, from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays and from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
People may also phone the department at 360-385-9400 to arrange other times.
Depending on available staff, needles can at times be exchanged during regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
