St. John's needle exchange gets new ride
A St. John's needle exchange program is celebrating a big step forward after the province's Health department bought it a new $30,000 van.
The Safe Works Access Program commonly known as SWAP gives out needles, crack pipes and condoms to people addicted to drugs.
It also promotes safe sex and safe drug use to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis.
Newfoundland and Labrador AIDS Committee's executive director Gerard Yetman said the group's work was threatened when the van broke down in December
The new vehicle means much more than just being able to make deliveries, he added.
"It provides us an opportunity to interact with our clients, to be able to be able to do counseling … and also provide services such as treatment or wound care."
SWAP managed to borrow a car from the City of St. John's, but it was small and sometimes wouldn't start.
Financial benefit
Yetman, who asked the province for money to buy the van, said it's a smart investment.
"When you look at the cost of treating one case of HIV or one case of Hepatitis C — the cost of the program is about one per cent of what the health care costs are that come out of the spread of these infections," said Yetman.
Heatlth Minister Steve Kent said while the government doesn't condone drug abuse it does see the value of harm reduction.
"The reality is that if we're going to tackle the problem then we have to have good harm reduction strategies in place," said Kent.
The SWAP program distributes over 600,000 needles each year.
Kent agreed with Yetman that the potential savings to the health-care system and taxpayers make buying the van a true bargain.
"There's definitely a direct benefit," said Kent.
"It makes sense for us to partner with community organizations and groups that are well positioned to meet community needs."
