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Heroin in Bermuda:

Front-line drug workers fear rise in number of AIDS cases By Karen Smith A surge in AIDS and HIV cases has been predicted for Bermuda with reports that intravenous drug use is on the rise, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Both drug users and drug counsellors said they had seen a greater number of addicts using needles to inject heroin, and they feared it could lead to an outbreak of the deadly virus.

Kuni Frith-Black, an addiction counsellor for Focus Counselling Service, said in just four years she had seen a massive increase in the use of heroin.

But she said in the last year or so, she had been dealing with more and more addicts who were shooting drugs straight into their veins.

She said: "Heroin has been around for a long time, but it has its rises and falls. It seems to be trendy for a while, and then it fades again. At the moment, it is very much in demand.

"But what we have also noticed is that intravenous drug use is on the rise and that is a big problem.

"Then you are not only looking at drug addiction, but also a surge in AIDS and HIV again.'' She said injecting drugs also went out of fashion for a while, but it is now the method of choice for many addicts.

Mrs. Frith-Black added: "I think a lot of old addicts that were using needles died off, possibly with AIDS, and that scared a lot of addicts.

"Maybe there was a stigma about it. But the stigma seems to be wearing off and people are doing it again. I think people need to be warned about the dangers of AIDS and the dangers of sharing needles.'' The Royal Gazette interviewed a recovering heroin and cocaine addict, who was also smuggling drugs into Bermuda for many years.

He said there was a stigma on the streets about needle use, to the point where many addicts did not want it to be known that they injected.

The 41-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said: "I was ashamed of shooting heroin because in Bermuda people on the street automatically presumed that if you were shooting up, you had AIDS.

"So, I never let anyone see me do it, and I also never shared a needle.

"Most of the AIDS victims on the Island were users and caught it from using the same needles. I learned that not only was I not going to share, but I wasn't going to let anyone know that I did it. I did not want to be associated with that stigma.'' However, the former addict said during recent months he had seen needles make a come back.

"Intravenous use has made a turnaround in Bermuda,'' he added.

"I think that's the most frightening part now. I know a lot of people that do it, but as the stigma wears off and new people start doing drugs, the number of people using needles is just going to continue to climb.

"It led to an increase in the number of AIDS and HIV cases before, and I think it will do the same again.

"But not only that, it is far more dangerous to inject drugs than to smoke or snort it because it goes straight into your veins.'' Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley last night said he was not surprised needles were fashionable again because history always repeats itself, he said.

But he said maybe it was time for a new AIDS education promotion to ensure that teenagers and the younger generation were fully aware of the dangers.

He said: "I think it could be time to promote it again. There's a new set of users -- a new generation. There are many different ways of getting AIDS, but it can be averted to some extent. I would support taking any message right to the classroom.'' The latest Government figures show that the number of AIDS cases in Bermuda continued to fall last year, but even then, in 2000 there were 11 men and five women who were diagnosed as having the disease.

Since 1982, there have been 453 cases of AIDS on the Island, 356 resulting in death. About 40 percent of the cases are the result of intravenous drug use.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome last night appealed for people to consider the dangers of drug use and the threat of AIDS.

And he said Government was trying to reach people at a young age, visiting pupils as young as primary school age to educate them on the possibilities.

He said: "An increase in the use of needles could lead to a rise in AIDS cases. All you need is one person to be infected and if that person affected shares needles, or indulges in sexual behaviour, then it could easily be passed on and the number of cases we see could increase.

"People need to be educated from a young age. I think once people become involved in drugs, and addicted, then maybe they don't listen to the advice we put out or take heed of the dangers.'' Counsellor warns of heroin `monster' "It could come from older family members, or friends who have access to the drugs.

"But not all the time do they need money - there is a lot of prostitution going on.

"I wouldn't say this affects youngsters of 12 and 13, but certainly with teenagers it is a problem, and it is absolutely not just with girls. We have a lot of male prostitutes and they are on the increase.'' Mrs. Frith-Black said in the last four years she had seen changes in Bermuda's drug market, especially with heroin use.

And she said, accordingly, the number of phone calls the service is receiving every day has shot up in the last two years.

The charity sees anywhere between 17 and 40 clients every day. But the counsellor said some cases stick out in her mind more than others.

"The worst case for me is possibly an entire family of abusers and dealers, and the house was used as a crack house, as well,'' she said.

"The youngest of that family is a 12-year-old female.

"Counselling has almost left an impression of doom and gloom on me. I love my job, but sometimes it feels like a wasted effort, although I know it isn't.

"I know that for every person who is trying to give up, or has recovered, there are always two more ready to take up the habit.'' But she said although Bermuda had a huge drug problem, especially for its size, she did not think the Island was necessarily any worse than anywhere else. It is merely following the trend, she said.

But she urged members of the community to fight back and to seek help for their family members who were addicted.

"We cannot sit back and say we will see what happens,'' she said.

"It is going to become a monster in the future and everybody needs to get involved now.

"People need to realise that they have to get involved now because some day it could be them who needs the help for a member of their family.'' Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said nothing he had heard had shocked him.

But he agreed that it was a community issue and people should seek help for loved ones, or turn dealers in to the Police.

He said: "A lot of people in our community are very concerned and are doing something, but overall, the community in Bermuda has not accepted that we have a huge problem.

"Not every family in the community is affected by it, but before long that will happen. We have a great advantage in Bermuda to really do something because we are so small.

"We are not going to make an impact until we all get involved. People have to stop watching and letting these things happen.'' GETTING HELP For help or information on drug abuse, call Focus Counselling Service on 296-2196; the National Drug Commission at 292-3049; or Turning Point at 239-2038.