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Doctors call for prison needle exchange
22 June 2010.
The Victorian Government must introduce a needle exchange program in Victorian prisons to reduce the transmission of blood born viruses among intravenous drug user detainees, AMA Victoria President Dr Harry Hemley said today.
The call comes during Drug Action Week, 20 – 26 June, an Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) initiative to raise awareness about drug issues in Australia.
"Needle exchange programs in the wider community have significantly reduced the spread of Hepatitis C and other blood borne viruses but detainees are still being denied access to safe injecting equipment," said Dr Hemley.
"Prisoners deserve the same rights to access and quality of health care as the wider community, this includes access to a needle exchange program while in detention."
Dr Hemley said around 35 per cent of prison entrants test positive to Hepatitis C but no Australian prison provides access to sterile injecting equipment.
"Illicit intravenous drug use is harmful and risky but unfortunately is common in Victorian prisons," he said. "What we need to focus on, from a health perspective, is reducing the risks to detainees, prison staff and the public by reducing the spread of blood borne viruses through sharing contaminated injecting equipment.
"Most prisoners will join the wider community on release, so reducing the spread of blood borne viruses in prisons will also impact on transmission in the wider population."
Dr Hemley said detainees should also be supported to manage substance abuse problems. "Facilities for detoxification and management of substance abuse must also be available for detainees," he said.
"A well-supported needle exchange program should be just one part of a range of harm-minimisation techniques and substance abuse treatment programs in Victorian prisons."
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