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Needle-exchange program is successful

• Published April 20, 2009

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Thurston County's needle-exchange program has been controversial since Day 1.

It was 14 years ago when Dr. Diana Yu, the county's health officer, approached Thurston County commissioners to seek their approval for a confidential needle-exchange program where intravenous drug users could exchange used syringes for clean needles.

At the time, Thurston County was seeing an increase in HIV infections. Public health officials looked behind the numbers and learned that much of the spread of HIV was coming from intravenous drug users sharing dirty needles. Those infected individuals were then having unprotected sex with unsuspecting partners, which contributed to the increase in HIV infections.

Commissioners gave their approval for the exchange program, and for the past 14 years, IV-drug users have visited a parking lot on Columbia Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues to exchange their needles. Operating out of a van, public health workers distribute thousands of clean needles every week to clients from Thurston, Lewis and Mason counties.

Now, the needle-exchange operation is moving indoors. Effective tomorrow, the program will operate out of the Cunningham building, at Fourth Avenue and Adams Street. It's a good move because it should help more drug users get the treatment they need to kick their addiction.

The average heroin user is not someone living on the street or under a bridge. It's the person sitting in the next cubicle, Yu said. Heroin and other opiate addicts are generally able to hide their drug use and frequently are fully functional members of society. Their addiction would shock co-workers, family members and friends. But they need treatment to kick their habit. The needle exchange program is a portal to treatment.

"It's a public health matter," Yu said. "My own kids ask me, 'Why are you condoning drug use?' I'm not condoning drug use, I'm intervening in a serious public health issue." Stopping the spread of HIV which can lead to AIDS is the primary goal as is halting the spread of Hepatitis B and C and other blood-borne illnesses.