Needle exchange program providing benefits

[Guest guest]

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_11280600

Needle exchange program providing benefits

By Stella

Current-Argus Staff Writer

Article Launched: 12/20/2008 09:01:19 PM MST

CARLSBAD — Public health officials in Carlsbad believe a syringe (needle)

program at the Eddy County Public Health Office is just a small tool, but a good

tool in reducing the number of cases of Hepatitis C in drug addicts and the

spreading of AIDS.

Landreth, a nurse and Eddy County Health Office manger representing the

offices in Carlsbad and Artesia, said his office exchanges on average about

11,000 syringes a month.

Participants in the needle exchange program must sign up with the New Mexico

Department of Health and are ensured confidentiality. They are given a card with

a unique identification number that is good for one year. The card must be

presented every time needles are exchanged.

Landreth said participants also complete a registration survey and must

participate in an education session when they bring in their syringes for

exchange.

Landreth presented his data as a panel member in cooperation with the Eddy

County Community Heath Council. Participating agencies presented recently

countywide data on programs and services provided to the public in Eddy County.

Minnick, New Mexico Department of Health regional public information

officer, said the state implemented the program 1998. Since then, statewide,

NMDH has exchanged 9 million syringes with a 97 percent return rate.

" The syringes are exchanged on a one-for-one basis with education and risk

reduction services provided at each encounter, " Landreth explained to the

commission.

Minnick said that in order to get a new needle, participants must bring in a

used one.

" Participants will not only bring in their own needles, but they will also go to

places where they know there are used needles and bring those in for exchange, "

he added. " Since the needle exchange program began in 1998, newly diagnosed

cases of AIDS have declined by approximately one-third each year, according to

the data from the NMDH's Infectious Disease Bureau. "

Landreth noted that the syringe exchange program in Eddy County was the first in

New Mexico and it has been extremely successful.

He said the program has also helped reduce the number of discarded syringes

found in parks and other areas where drug users shoot up and discard their

needles, county leaders.

" The city's Public Works Department has said that they are seeing a significant

reduction in the number of needles from what they were seeing in public places, "

Landreth said. " They said they very rarely find them now. They were also having

a problem with people flushing the syringes down the toilet instead of putting

them in a safe receptacle for disposal. By having people bring their used

syringes to us, we know they are being disposed of properly and safely. "

He said surprisingly, more methamphetamine users than opiate (heroin) users come

in to exchange their needles.

Camero, city public works director, said he was stunned after hearing the

monthly syringe exchange numbers.

" Wow, that's a lot, " he said. " But it appears to be helping. Two years ago, used

syringes discarded in public places were a big problem for us. It (the problem)

hasn't come up lately. It had come to the point that we provided all our

sanitation drivers with rubber gloves and receptacles to put the syringes in so

we could dispose of them properly. "

On hearing Landreth's report, Commission Chairman Guy Lutman said the number of

needles exchanged is " mind boggling. "

Commissioner Janell Whitlock was also stunned on hearing the numbers and said,

" Give me some good news. Are the syringes provided only to drug users? "

" The program is open to Type 1 diabetics. We do dispose of a lot of syringes for

them. But we have less than 20 diabetics that come in for syringe exchanges. "

Minnick said the program serves a dual purpose in the community. The first is to

get possible infected needles out of the community, and the second it to develop

trust with the participants so when they are ready to start fighting their

addiction, they have a person to turn to whom they trust.

" Needle exchange is a unique safety line for the people in the program because

everything is out in the open. When they are ready to get clean, they know they

can turn to the Health Department for help, " Minnick said.

To help stop the spread of infections diseases, the Department of Health offers

screening for Hepatitis B and C, and for HIV. It also provides free

immunizations for Hepatitis A and B. For more information about the department's

harm reduction services, call (575) 528-5000 or visit the Department of Health

online at www.healthynm.org.

[Guest guest]

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_11280600

Needle exchange program providing benefits

By Stella

Current-Argus Staff Writer

Article Launched: 12/20/2008 09:01:19 PM MST

CARLSBAD — Public health officials in Carlsbad believe a syringe (needle)

program at the Eddy County Public Health Office is just a small tool, but a good

tool in reducing the number of cases of Hepatitis C in drug addicts and the

spreading of AIDS.

Landreth, a nurse and Eddy County Health Office manger representing the

offices in Carlsbad and Artesia, said his office exchanges on average about

11,000 syringes a month.

Participants in the needle exchange program must sign up with the New Mexico

Department of Health and are ensured confidentiality. They are given a card with

a unique identification number that is good for one year. The card must be

presented every time needles are exchanged.

Landreth said participants also complete a registration survey and must

participate in an education session when they bring in their syringes for

exchange.

Landreth presented his data as a panel member in cooperation with the Eddy

County Community Heath Council. Participating agencies presented recently

countywide data on programs and services provided to the public in Eddy County.

Minnick, New Mexico Department of Health regional public information

officer, said the state implemented the program 1998. Since then, statewide,

NMDH has exchanged 9 million syringes with a 97 percent return rate.

" The syringes are exchanged on a one-for-one basis with education and risk

reduction services provided at each encounter, " Landreth explained to the

commission.

Minnick said that in order to get a new needle, participants must bring in a

used one.

" Participants will not only bring in their own needles, but they will also go to

places where they know there are used needles and bring those in for exchange, "

he added. " Since the needle exchange program began in 1998, newly diagnosed

cases of AIDS have declined by approximately one-third each year, according to

the data from the NMDH's Infectious Disease Bureau. "

Landreth noted that the syringe exchange program in Eddy County was the first in

New Mexico and it has been extremely successful.

He said the program has also helped reduce the number of discarded syringes

found in parks and other areas where drug users shoot up and discard their

needles, county leaders.

" The city's Public Works Department has said that they are seeing a significant

reduction in the number of needles from what they were seeing in public places, "

Landreth said. " They said they very rarely find them now. They were also having

a problem with people flushing the syringes down the toilet instead of putting

them in a safe receptacle for disposal. By having people bring their used

syringes to us, we know they are being disposed of properly and safely. "

He said surprisingly, more methamphetamine users than opiate (heroin) users come

in to exchange their needles.

Camero, city public works director, said he was stunned after hearing the

monthly syringe exchange numbers.

" Wow, that's a lot, " he said. " But it appears to be helping. Two years ago, used

syringes discarded in public places were a big problem for us. It (the problem)

hasn't come up lately. It had come to the point that we provided all our

sanitation drivers with rubber gloves and receptacles to put the syringes in so

we could dispose of them properly. "

On hearing Landreth's report, Commission Chairman Guy Lutman said the number of

needles exchanged is " mind boggling. "

Commissioner Janell Whitlock was also stunned on hearing the numbers and said,

" Give me some good news. Are the syringes provided only to drug users? "

" The program is open to Type 1 diabetics. We do dispose of a lot of syringes for

them. But we have less than 20 diabetics that come in for syringe exchanges. "

Minnick said the program serves a dual purpose in the community. The first is to

get possible infected needles out of the community, and the second it to develop

trust with the participants so when they are ready to start fighting their

addiction, they have a person to turn to whom they trust.

" Needle exchange is a unique safety line for the people in the program because

everything is out in the open. When they are ready to get clean, they know they

can turn to the Health Department for help, " Minnick said.

To help stop the spread of infections diseases, the Department of Health offers

screening for Hepatitis B and C, and for HIV. It also provides free

immunizations for Hepatitis A and B. For more information about the department's

harm reduction services, call (575) 528-5000 or visit the Department of Health

online at www.healthynm.org.

[Guest guest]

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_11280600

Needle exchange program providing benefits

By Stella

Current-Argus Staff Writer

Article Launched: 12/20/2008 09:01:19 PM MST

CARLSBAD — Public health officials in Carlsbad believe a syringe (needle)

program at the Eddy County Public Health Office is just a small tool, but a good

tool in reducing the number of cases of Hepatitis C in drug addicts and the

spreading of AIDS.

Landreth, a nurse and Eddy County Health Office manger representing the

offices in Carlsbad and Artesia, said his office exchanges on average about

11,000 syringes a month.

Participants in the needle exchange program must sign up with the New Mexico

Department of Health and are ensured confidentiality. They are given a card with

a unique identification number that is good for one year. The card must be

presented every time needles are exchanged.

Landreth said participants also complete a registration survey and must

participate in an education session when they bring in their syringes for

exchange.

Landreth presented his data as a panel member in cooperation with the Eddy

County Community Heath Council. Participating agencies presented recently

countywide data on programs and services provided to the public in Eddy County.

Minnick, New Mexico Department of Health regional public information

officer, said the state implemented the program 1998. Since then, statewide,

NMDH has exchanged 9 million syringes with a 97 percent return rate.

" The syringes are exchanged on a one-for-one basis with education and risk

reduction services provided at each encounter, " Landreth explained to the

commission.

Minnick said that in order to get a new needle, participants must bring in a

used one.

" Participants will not only bring in their own needles, but they will also go to

places where they know there are used needles and bring those in for exchange, "

he added. " Since the needle exchange program began in 1998, newly diagnosed

cases of AIDS have declined by approximately one-third each year, according to

the data from the NMDH's Infectious Disease Bureau. "

Landreth noted that the syringe exchange program in Eddy County was the first in

New Mexico and it has been extremely successful.

He said the program has also helped reduce the number of discarded syringes

found in parks and other areas where drug users shoot up and discard their

needles, county leaders.

" The city's Public Works Department has said that they are seeing a significant

reduction in the number of needles from what they were seeing in public places, "

Landreth said. " They said they very rarely find them now. They were also having

a problem with people flushing the syringes down the toilet instead of putting

them in a safe receptacle for disposal. By having people bring their used

syringes to us, we know they are being disposed of properly and safely. "

He said surprisingly, more methamphetamine users than opiate (heroin) users come

in to exchange their needles.

Camero, city public works director, said he was stunned after hearing the

monthly syringe exchange numbers.

" Wow, that's a lot, " he said. " But it appears to be helping. Two years ago, used

syringes discarded in public places were a big problem for us. It (the problem)

hasn't come up lately. It had come to the point that we provided all our

sanitation drivers with rubber gloves and receptacles to put the syringes in so

we could dispose of them properly. "

On hearing Landreth's report, Commission Chairman Guy Lutman said the number of

needles exchanged is " mind boggling. "

Commissioner Janell Whitlock was also stunned on hearing the numbers and said,

" Give me some good news. Are the syringes provided only to drug users? "

" The program is open to Type 1 diabetics. We do dispose of a lot of syringes for

them. But we have less than 20 diabetics that come in for syringe exchanges. "

Minnick said the program serves a dual purpose in the community. The first is to

get possible infected needles out of the community, and the second it to develop

trust with the participants so when they are ready to start fighting their

addiction, they have a person to turn to whom they trust.

" Needle exchange is a unique safety line for the people in the program because

everything is out in the open. When they are ready to get clean, they know they

can turn to the Health Department for help, " Minnick said.

To help stop the spread of infections diseases, the Department of Health offers

screening for Hepatitis B and C, and for HIV. It also provides free

immunizations for Hepatitis A and B. For more information about the department's

harm reduction services, call (575) 528-5000 or visit the Department of Health

online at www.healthynm.org.

[Guest guest]

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_11280600

Needle exchange program providing benefits

By Stella

Current-Argus Staff Writer

Article Launched: 12/20/2008 09:01:19 PM MST

CARLSBAD — Public health officials in Carlsbad believe a syringe (needle)

program at the Eddy County Public Health Office is just a small tool, but a good

tool in reducing the number of cases of Hepatitis C in drug addicts and the

spreading of AIDS.

Landreth, a nurse and Eddy County Health Office manger representing the

offices in Carlsbad and Artesia, said his office exchanges on average about

11,000 syringes a month.

Participants in the needle exchange program must sign up with the New Mexico

Department of Health and are ensured confidentiality. They are given a card with

a unique identification number that is good for one year. The card must be

presented every time needles are exchanged.

Landreth said participants also complete a registration survey and must

participate in an education session when they bring in their syringes for

exchange.

Landreth presented his data as a panel member in cooperation with the Eddy

County Community Heath Council. Participating agencies presented recently

countywide data on programs and services provided to the public in Eddy County.

Minnick, New Mexico Department of Health regional public information

officer, said the state implemented the program 1998. Since then, statewide,

NMDH has exchanged 9 million syringes with a 97 percent return rate.

" The syringes are exchanged on a one-for-one basis with education and risk

reduction services provided at each encounter, " Landreth explained to the

commission.

Minnick said that in order to get a new needle, participants must bring in a

used one.

" Participants will not only bring in their own needles, but they will also go to

places where they know there are used needles and bring those in for exchange, "

he added. " Since the needle exchange program began in 1998, newly diagnosed

cases of AIDS have declined by approximately one-third each year, according to

the data from the NMDH's Infectious Disease Bureau. "

Landreth noted that the syringe exchange program in Eddy County was the first in

New Mexico and it has been extremely successful.

He said the program has also helped reduce the number of discarded syringes

found in parks and other areas where drug users shoot up and discard their

needles, county leaders.

" The city's Public Works Department has said that they are seeing a significant

reduction in the number of needles from what they were seeing in public places, "

Landreth said. " They said they very rarely find them now. They were also having

a problem with people flushing the syringes down the toilet instead of putting

them in a safe receptacle for disposal. By having people bring their used

syringes to us, we know they are being disposed of properly and safely. "

He said surprisingly, more methamphetamine users than opiate (heroin) users come

in to exchange their needles.

Camero, city public works director, said he was stunned after hearing the

monthly syringe exchange numbers.

" Wow, that's a lot, " he said. " But it appears to be helping. Two years ago, used

syringes discarded in public places were a big problem for us. It (the problem)

hasn't come up lately. It had come to the point that we provided all our

sanitation drivers with rubber gloves and receptacles to put the syringes in so

we could dispose of them properly. "

On hearing Landreth's report, Commission Chairman Guy Lutman said the number of

needles exchanged is " mind boggling. "

Commissioner Janell Whitlock was also stunned on hearing the numbers and said,

" Give me some good news. Are the syringes provided only to drug users? "

" The program is open to Type 1 diabetics. We do dispose of a lot of syringes for

them. But we have less than 20 diabetics that come in for syringe exchanges. "

Minnick said the program serves a dual purpose in the community. The first is to

get possible infected needles out of the community, and the second it to develop

trust with the participants so when they are ready to start fighting their

addiction, they have a person to turn to whom they trust.

" Needle exchange is a unique safety line for the people in the program because

everything is out in the open. When they are ready to get clean, they know they

can turn to the Health Department for help, " Minnick said.

To help stop the spread of infections diseases, the Department of Health offers

screening for Hepatitis B and C, and for HIV. It also provides free

immunizations for Hepatitis A and B. For more information about the department's

harm reduction services, call (575) 528-5000 or visit the Department of Health

online at www.healthynm.org.