Needle exchange programs (NEP) provide clean needles to intravenous drug users. It seems logical to assume that using cleaner needles would lead to lower levels of HIV and hepatitis infections in addicts. So obvious, in fact, that it was years before any research was done to test this hypothesis. The results from the best research came as a total surprise: the use of needle exchange programs is actually associated with a dramatic increase in the rates of HIV and hepatitis B and C.

A study based in Montreal (Bruneau, 1997) showed that addicts who always used needle exchange programs were 10-20 times more likely to be HIV-positive than those who never did. These results were so politically charged that they were omitted from the abstract of the paper.

Two Vancouver studies found similar results (Strathdee, 1997 and Schechter, 1999), but also discovered that HIV-positive drug abusers were more likely to inject cocaine and to have been using drugs for more than two years. Negative effects of needle exchange programs are not limited to HIV. A Seattle-based study found that NEP users were more likely to become positive for hepatitis B or C antibodies (Hagan, 1999).

Scientists have tried to explain these and similar results away. However, none of their explanations are satisfactory or supported by science. There is one explanation that researchers avoid like the plague–that injection of drugs is the direct source of the antibodies. If this were true it would mean that drug addicts were not generating antibodies because of infectious diseases, but because of the drugs, impurities in the drugs or fillers used to "cut" the drugs. Supporting this, one study (Sterk, 1988) found a much higher percentage of non-injection cocaine users to be HIV-positive (84 percent) than injection users (46 percent). Clean needle users may be more likely to have antibodies because they are exposed to more drugs. Consideration of this theory would call into question the basis for the "harm reduction" philosophy, which considers exposure to pathogens to be a greater risk than use of drugs. This in itself has persuaded some addicts to move from injecting to snorting drugs. It would also undermine confidence in the accuracy of antibody tests and reduce the perception that HIV and hepatitis B and C are threats to healthy people.

The only real solution to the damage done by drugs is to stop using them. People recovering from drug abuse (just like recovering alcoholics or the over-medicated) may be suffering from serious nutritional deficiencies. During their addiction, their diets were likely poor and their bodies absorbed nutrients inefficiently. According to Dr Roberto Cappelletti, an Italian doctor who has worked extensively with recovering drug addicts, they need lots of protein in their diet to help their recovery. Antioxidants are important, particularly polyphenols from fruits such as plum, blackberry, bilberry and grape. Green tea is also valuable.

Recovering addicts have high needs for essential fatty acids found in flaxseed oil (omega-3s and-6s) and fish oil (omega-3s). Fresh foods and lots of roughage are preferred, while fried foods and sugar should be avoided. Algae, such as agar, helps to rebuild the connective tissues. Even after changing to a diet high in raw foods, including a variety of fruits, vegetables and nuts, supplementation may still be required.

David Crowe is president of the Alberta Reappraising AIDS Society at 403-220-0129 or aras.ab.ca.

Source: alive #230, December 2001