Page 789 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 1990
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As I mentioned earlier, the AIDS epidemic is fortunately less advanced in the ACT than in some other States, enabling more of the resources available to fight the epidemic to be directed towards prevention and education programs rather than treatment and care. In fact, the ACT has led the way in developing innovative and effective prevention and education programs. For example, the ACT needle exchange program, established in and operated by the Drug Referral and Information Centre was a national demonstration project. The program, which involves both the exchange and distribution of clean needles and syringes to drug users - - - (Quorum formed) The program, which involves both the change and distribution of clean needles and syringes to drug users, operates through a mobile bus - I am sure we have all seen the bus - five health centres, two private pharmacies, the AIDS Action Council of the ACT and the needle exchange program's own premises in Braddon.
The program distributes over 10,500 needles every three months, together with condoms and information. It has an average return rate of 42 per cent. The return rate is a more positive indicator of the success of the program than may appear at first glance because of the availability of special disposal units throughout Canberra, and because of education programs targeted at drug users advising them of safe disposal methods. Indeed, I recall seeing on television in the last 24 hours that further safe disposal methods will be introduced into hospitals in due course.
The comparatively low number of used syringes found during January's Clean Up Australia Day campaign, only 39 in all, is an indication that this advice is being heeded. Compared to other metropolitan areas of Australia which are believed to have similar levels of drug use, this figure is remarkably low. I am aware that people in the community were concerned by the number of needles found but I can assure members it was only a tiny fraction of the total number of needles actually in circulation in the community at this time.
The Drug Referral and Information Centre - DRIC - has also developed a pioneering AIDS education kit for alcohol and drug workers which has been demonstrated and used throughout Australia. DRIC's programs and staff are highly regarded within the AIDS sector.
The AIDS Action Council of the ACT, another non-government organisation, has also played a major role in developing and implementing AIDS education and prevention programs in the ACT. The council has had a high profile in initiating innovative AIDS programs addressing interests across the community, including the development of a model program for peer education which is now being used nationally, and involvement in one of the first public bus advertising campaigns, in 1986. The council was also responsible for creating, in conjunction with local drug agencies, one of the first pamphlets about the dangers of HIV infection through intravenous drug use.
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