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Australian Capital Territory
officials plan soon to launch a pilot trial of the nation’s first prison-based
needle-exchange program. With the Oct. 20 ACT election looming, however, the
NEP is likely to be highlighted as a policy difference between the Labor
government and Canberra Liberals.
ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher
announced the one-for-one NEP today, saying it would begin as soon as an
implementation plan is developed. While it will not be the full program
recommended by a 2010 report on blood-borne viruses in prisons, Gallagher said,
“I do believe that it is worthwhile examining a model which has been put to me
by doctors, which addresses access to clean injecting equipment if considered
clinically appropriate.”
Doctors will be the key
decision-makers, with jail staff and health and correction officials to decide
on how the NEP should work. The Community and Public Sector Union - vocal
opponents of a full NEP - will be looking closely at the proposal on behalf of
prison officers it represents, said Vince McDevitt, the regional secretary.
ACT Greens, who have advocated a
prison NEP for years, called the trial a win for evidence-based policy. “We
can’t bury our heads in the sand about this any longer,” said Amanda Bresnan,
the Greens health and corrections spokesperson. But her Liberal counterpart,
Jeremy Hanson, said an NEP would be a mistake, noting that three-quarters of
prisoners are incarcerated for drug-related crimes.
“We have a golden opportunity to
break their cycle of drug dependency while they are in jail,” Hanson said. “A
needle simply condones and maintains their ongoing drug use and will see
prisoners released with the same drug habits that led to their crimes.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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