Local drug programs aim to contain spread of infections
Posted Jul 14, 2011 By Stacey Roy
Email
Print
Tweet ThisEMC News - Staff at the Smiths Falls Methadone Clinic and Needle Exchange program are waging a quiet war against a growing epidemic of Hepatitis C in the region.
Jennifer Adams, the public health nurse in charge of Clean Works needle exchange program at the Health Unit, told councillors this week that Lanark County has 42 infected residents for every 100,000 while the provincial average is 33 for 100,000.
Hep C is "ten times more infectious than HIV is," Adams said.
The health care community is concerned with these numbers. To address it they are acting on the number one risk indicator: injection drug use by operating Clean Works in eight communities including Smiths Falls' health unit office (across from the hospital). This free, non-judgmental program focuses on providing users with an unlimited supply of clean needles, etc. in the hopes of protecting them and their family from infections such as HIV, Hep B and C.
"Until they're ready to make that change," Adams said.
The ultimate goal is to ensure users are using "everything new every time" so the program is looking at developing a formalized peer distribution program to get clean needles into the hands of people who are too uncomfortable to attend the clinic themselves.
Containment of infection includes protecting lips from chapping and cutting so part of their package is lip balm.
The program has identified a flaw in the low return rate of used needles with 400 needles returned in 2010 compared to the 5,389 handed out that same year.
"We've got issues down here that we need to tackle," Adams said.
To do that they are working with local police services to allow their clients to freely return empty, used materials to the clinic or their secure outside drop box at the health unit without fear. Mayor Dennis Staples invited Adams to a future Police Services Board meeting to begin the dialogue locally.
The program's next step is to tap into the steroid using population to ensure they are not sharing needles and using clean ones each time. They are also hoping to introduce a client card that will help them gather data and identify their clients to police, etc.
Keeping residents in Lanark County and North Leeds safe until they make the decision to quit using is the focus of Clean Works. Change Health Care is the methadone clinic that opened up on William Street in May and focuses on the next step in the journey to recovery - improving functionality and the ability to wean off drug use.
Kate Johnston of Change Health Care spoke to councillors this week about their two programs: Suboxone Substitute therapy and the Methadone Maintenance treatment.
"It's not about getting high it's about functioning and not being sick," Johnston said.
In fact, the methadone drug blocks receptors in a client's brain so that they are unable to feel the euphoria from other drug use. The purpose of methadone treatment is to treat the withdrawal symptoms someone feels when coming off the drugs so that they can fully function in society. Withdrawal feels like a severe flu and can include nausea, aches, depression, cravings, anxiety, paranoia, etc. These symptoms or the effects can last days, weeks or months.
To avoid feeling this way, hooked individuals may resort to criminal activity to feed their cravings. Johnston said many people start out with a doctor's prescription for opiods but soon find they aren't getting enough to feed the craving so they turn to illegal drugs to top it up. What can also happen is a doctor realizes a person is addicted and will cut off access entirely leaving the addicted person without any legal means of obtaining the drug.
Councillors thanked both delegates for coming to the committee meeting this week.
"I'm glad you're in our community and are able to do this," said councillor Chris Cummings.
"For me, it's all about harm reduction," added councillor Ken Graham.
Harm reduction is an approach that reduces the danger of a dangerous act when it is clear the eradication of the act itself is impractical.
In dollars and cents, programs like Clean Works and the methadone clinic do save money in the health care system. Adams said a clean rig kit handed out to users costs $2, but to treat someone for a year with HIV costs $150,000.
"The cost difference is quite substantial," Adams said.
Councillor Lorraine Allen invited both organizations to sit on the developing Drug Strategy Committee. It isn't too late to be part of the drug strategy committee. Simply pick up an application from the clerk at the town hall.
blog comments powered by Disqus
