Battle To Prevent HIV In Drug Users

The Northwestern Health Unit continues the battle against HIV.
Public Health Nurse Kim Elke says we are facing the same problems as Saskatchewan 10 years ago.
Elke says they had a tremendous amount of IV drug use that was sharply increasing, and they had an increase in the number of hepatitis cases.
Elke says all it takes is 1 or 2 HIV-positive users to get introduced into the drug community, and then that will spread.
Elke says that the region is also facing chlamydia rates that are 3 to 4 times higher then the provincial average.
On the flip side, she says the health unit is seeing a positive increase in users injecting with clean needles.
In 2011, there were 70,000 and last year 112,000.
When she did the 6-month figures, they are looking at between 150,000 and 160,000 needles out.
The health unit also has cocaine and crack kits to prevent transmission by snorting.
Elke adds that they just got funding to hire a new position.
The peer position will be someone who has used drugs and will do education within the community about safe needle disposal and some of the other programs.