Harm Reduction

have to train as a doctor to get the support she needs. In her studies

she cannot afford the visits and the medicine. As a result, both her physical and mental/emotional

is nothing at all. She lives paycheck to paycheck because she does not make enough money to

As soon as she will be able to sleep more and change her feelings about SAD, she will be able to feel better with her joint pain.

support three children and pay all of her bills with that money. She barely makes enough to cover

Using injection sites that not only provide the individual with the instruments but also the knowledge of same practices would be very beneficial investment for Canada, thus the previously stated example of how Canada has already enabled and succeeded with this method within Vancouver British Columbia. If Canada were to take on more of these harm reduction initiatives then there could be more individuals benefiting from the process and as a result street crime with drugs would also be dramatically decreased. However in reality Canada has already been practicing harm reduction strategies for centuries, they have just been practiced without the label of harm reduction. “In 1987, as concerns rose in the community about the spread of HIV through injection drug use, bleach programs were started at Alexandra Park in Toronto; these developed into syringe exchange programs in 1988 and were taken over by the City of Toronto in 1989” (Cavalieri, W. & Riley, D. 2012, Harm Reduction in Canada: The Many Faces of Regression. 3). With every initiative designed to help society there will always be those who disagree with the approach. Even though there is overwhelming evidence that harm reduction techniques such as injection sites work, funding is a big issue mainly on account of these methods advertise and

People do take drugs and some of them stop taking it eventually. I am worried about the long-term effect that sterilisation may have on ex-addicts who took the cash and went for sterilisation. Now, they may regret it

In today’s society people are talking about babies being born to drugs, and how could a mother do that to their unborn child. Drug addiction is a very serious issue that needs more research. We are still learning the effects of substance abuse. One problem that needs to be looked at is are there enough Rehabilitation Centers, to help the women who are addicted to these different street drugs. Also doctor and nurses should not judge these women but instead give them the best prenatal care that can be provided. We need to see what harm and side affects it has on the mother and baby, so that we can be able to understand better how to treat these women and get them off drugs before they do harm their babies.

She is currently working for Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters on an AmeriCorps VISTA grant which pays very near poverty level income. She has had many health problems in the last 3 years leading to an eventual visit to Mayo Clinic; at this point in time she is relatively healthy other than a torn ligament in her ankle.

Infants of regular heavy users usually have a low birth weight, because of intrauterine growth retardation and frequent premature births. (http://www.bookrags.com/research/addicted-babies-edaa-01/) Also if you are regularly abusing the drug, the infant may be born physically dependent on heroin. Children born to addicted mothers are at greater risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) as well. (http://www.uatests.com/drug-information/heroin.html) Tiffany looks over at Cassandra with tears running down her face and tells her, “I don’t know what to do? I want to stop but I can’t! I need to use heroin, I can’t go a few hours without it.” Cassandra hugs her and tells Tiffany, “Yes you can stop! You just need a little help and support, but you also have to know the risks you pose to yourself.”

Sally, thank you for your thoughtful post. In reading it, especially your questions regarding whether to treat while Joe was continuing to use alcohol and methamphetamine as well as regarding a potentially sub-optimal choice of antipsychotic based upon his preference, I was reminded of the harm reduction philosophy frequently used in drug and alcohol (AOD) treatment. In the context of AOD use, harm reduction is any measure taken to prevent harmful consequences of drug use without a goal of interfering with drug consumption (Kleinig, 2008). Examples of harm reduction are needle exchange programs, nicotine patches, designated driver programs and medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence. In my viewpoint, your choice to treat

Scientific research shows that treatment can help many drug using offenders change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors; avoid relapse; and successfully remove themselves from a life of substance use and crime. Treatment can cut drug use in half, decrease criminal activity, and reduce arrests. It is true that legal pressure might be needed to get a person into treatment and help them stay there. Once in a treatment program, however, even those who are not initially motivated to change can become engaged in a continuing treatment process. In fact, research suggests that mandated treatment can be just as effective as voluntary admission to rehab centers.

Drug-addicted offenders need to be placed in treatment centers if our society ever wants to put a dent in the monstrosity of drug abuse. Through these treatments and programs addicts can come to terms with their problems and be able to cope

So the treatment should have focus not only on the person’s physical and mental health but also focus on person’s all related issues. If the addicted person completed the whole treatment, then the chances of relapse decreases, but if the person leave the treatment in between then there are chances of relapse increases. So the determination of the person to quit the addiction is most important in the treatment of drug addiction.

Many people believe that drug addicts should be treated as criminals. When it comes to the topic of drug addicts, most of us will readily agree that they should be put in jail because some of them might go to far and try to harm someone while being on drugs. Where this agreement usually ends however, people don’t look at the fact that the drug addicts probably have a lot of problems, and just need help. Whereas some are convicted that they could go to a rehab center and get the help they need, others maintain that going to jail would take them off the streets so that they won 't harm anything or anyone. Although, I 've always believed that drug addicts should not be treated as criminals, but as having a medical problem.