On the other hand, people who are against of needle exchange programs claim that the needle exchange programs don’t save lives but instead it can cause drug-related deaths. Even though NEPs help reduce the transmission of HIV and other diseases, they still encourage people to use more drugs, which could lead to death. Addicts are prone to death, perhaps not from HIV, but from overdosed, collapsed veins, poisoned dope, or the violence and criminality that go along with the illicit drug trade. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are more than 33,000 people who died from drug overdose in 2005. As a result, drug overdose become the second
Several studies have shown that injection drug users lower their risk of transmitting infectious diseases when there is a needle exchange program available. There has not been a valid study of whether or not the amounts of time needles are returned to the exchange programs are harmful to communities. The Journal of Public Health, conducted surveys, evidence from needle exchange sites, jails, and institutions that needle exchange programs are effective in reducing illnesses such as HIV and AIDS (Burt & Theide, 2016). Furthermore, Reepalu, Blome, Bjork, Widell, & Bjorkman (2012), researched the same individuals for 20 years, with no breaks. Their studies concluded that injection drug use, not only heightens the risk for HIV and AID’s, there is also an increase in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. However, there studies showed that there is not an increase rate of cancer diagnoses due to injection drug use. In a study conducted by Bonar and Rosenberg (2014), they wanted to see if self-initiated harm strategies, such as: proper needle sterilization techniques, proper disposal of needles, and cleaning of the pre injected skin, could help improve the health of those that use drugs intravenously. Their study was conducted over an eight-month period, results showed that their
Harm reduction can be defined as an approach that aims to reduce the consequences of high risk behaviours such as injection drug use on the individual and on society as a whole. Harm reduction programs provide injection drug users with access to a clean injection environment, sterile injections, drug-preparation equipment and safe disposal of contaminated material at the time of injection. Staff members in harm reduction facilities provide health teaching, anonymous HIV testing, information on addiction treatment, condoms and assist in connecting clients to social and health services (Semaan et al., 2011; Ball, 2007). Although, the benefits of harm reduction are evident through reduction of accidental drug overdose and prevention of
Although there are many pros, there are a few cons. Many people who oppose the program believe that it accepts IV drug use and is funded by taxpayers’ dollars, which can be used for something else to better the community. Many residents feel insecure and vulnerable due to the programs. Giving out clean needles does nothing to discourage drug use and is completely government funded.
The group as a whole believes that harm reduction policy promotes public health. Those who are contrary to the police believe programs like the needle exchange program and methadone clinics promote the abuse of drugs. The harm reduction approach intends to treat and educate addicts in hopes they will stop the abuse and decrease the rate of disease. Not all drug addicts are criminals, and those who are not criminals may actually have a “true” addiction or illness. Instead of criminally charging those individuals, the policy is trying to connect with them to get the actual help they need. For years now, the United States has attempted to ban such drug use with no success. The government should be aware that it would cost them less to promote programs, such as the needle exchange program, verses paying to treat addicts who have contracted HIV from drug use. As long as drugs are being distributed on the streets, there will always be individuals who will abuse them.
In conclusion, I agree with harm reduction and in the sense that it is a good idea in regards to needle exchange programs. In my personal thoughts, the needle exchange programs offer addicts clean needles but doesn't encourage them to use drugs, just a safer way to inject the drugs and provide a safer society. People who use drugs are going to continue their habits whether they think it is safe or not. Harm reduction is developmentally an approach to prevention of behavior in
Those individuals that contradicted the Needle Exchange program can refer to that this program can prompt the advancement of medications by giving needles to them. Some rules ought not to be yielded only to have this arrangement. The individual decision to go on the wrong way by taking medications in the public eye should realize that it is unlawful. That person that picks this way all separate way to make drugs ought to endure the results individually, without being loads on alternate citizens. This sorts of standards are improper. For example, Atlantic City judges managed in 2005 against Needle Exchanges on the premise that: "Atlantic City and its representatives are not absolved from the (criminal) code arrangements precluding the ownership, utilize, and circulation of medications and medication gear basically on the grounds that they received a needle-trade program for advantageous reasons." (Forum). As should be apparent, there are many levels headed discussion spinning the benefits of introducing Needle Exchange Program. Advantages incorporate the previously mentioned explanations behind diminishing HIV and making nature more secure. Be that as it may, the NEP can send a wrong message advising individuals to utilize needles drugs. These considerations show up at a youthful age. This is because of an absence of information about society. The needle trade projects can send a zero-resilience message to the adolescents and organization. In any case, this could be uncommon. A portion of the issues is not tended to in this program. For instance, sharing the blend of water for heroin. This little issues can have a massive effect on the general public. At last, the needle trade program lessens the quantity of impact from HIV/AIDs display. In my viewpoint, needle trade programs are to a high degree profitable to the overall population. Each application isn't flawless; however, its principal objective is to enable the
Needle exchange programs are considered in the public’s eye as controversial topic. The major public fears involve that these needle exchange programs will propagate the drug problem even more. Another fear is the spread of diseases such as HIV that will spread more rapidly than before among users. These two issues unify where the use of intravenous drugs not only creates disease risk from injection with tainted needles, but also increases risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases through promiscuous sex, possibly related to drug use. However, with the local health departments allowed to offer needle exchange programs give access to drug users to prevent contaminating the major population. "A
Imagine living in a world where the government supplied drug addicts with free drugs. This is what is happening with the needle exchange. Needle Exchange Programs allow injecting drug users to trade in dirty needles for clean needles at little to no cost. Using dirty needles, or needles that have already been used, is one of the main causes of HIV and other blood borne illnesses. There have been many studies that show this correlation. There are many problems that make Needle Exchange programs ineffective.
In considering our current issue in society, people wonder if heroin clinics are a good or bad idea towards solving the problem, the increased use of heroin. Heroin is a psychoactive drug that is synthesized from morphine and is known to be highly addictive. Not only does heroin produce pleasurable effects for the user, but it can be potentially dangerous due to the user being unaware of the drugs purity and with tolerance developing rapidly, it poses an increased chance of overdosing. Based on European and Canadian models, advocates argue that the clinics will help provide addicts with a safe place to use, prevent the spread of disease and overdose deaths, and increase the odds that a drug user will return to a productive life. I could not agree anymore with this alternative way of treating this epidemic of increased heroin abuse. I believe heroin clinics will not only help
Are drug users people too? The health and safety of all people is crucial. It’s important keeping drug dependent people free of HIV this prevents its spread to their partners and their children. In order to provide necessary care, free sterilized needles should be given to drug users. The public should be advised of positive effects of needle exchange programs and warned of the risks of not supplying adequate syringes. The provocative idea of giving drug addicts clean needles to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS was first broached in 1985. This concept has been under research ever since. Harm reduction approaches for those who inject drugs, including the distribution of clean needles and syringes, are proven interventions to prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne viruses, and are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other leading public health agencies.
They are also required to go through regular drug testing, and are scrutinized more than someone on probation or parole, sometimes for 20 to 30 years depending on the addict(Chapman). This is because in order for methadone to continue to do it’s job it must be taken for as long as they have cravings which in many cases never go away (Borden). The fact that these facilitys are so scarce and the trouble an addict has to go through to get the proper treatment scares many away from even trying it. This all stems from the strict anti drug policies in many countries that only serve to hurt addicts in the long run. In order to even open one of these facilities in the US currently the clinic must be staffed by specially trained doctors that are kept under a magnifying glass through heavy regulations, and record-keeping procedured that deter most from even opening a clinic (Chapman). If the laws were changed so that these clinics are easier to open and operate, or if methadone was available by perscription it would make it infinintly easier to get into the hands of the addicts who need it. It has been shown in Switzerland that the number of heroin related arrests was down 95% after a year of methadone being more readily available to heroin addicts (Dalyremple).
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that syringe exchange programs can be effective in linking hard-to-reach individuals to health services, and that the programs do not serve to encourage drug use or initiate.” (Needle exchange, 2009) Kidorf states that the community based programs increased motivation to participate in substance abuse programs and treatments.
In the 2010 research study conducted by Des Jarlais, Arasteh, McKnight, Ringer, and Friedman, the authors sought to identify potential shifts in the behavior of “injecting and non-injecting” drug users in New York City after access was given to SEPs. They collected data from the Beth Israel methadone maintenance program concerning the route of administration for the primary drug being used by new arrivals between the years 1994 and 2007 (Des Jarlais et al., 2010). The study showed that following the year 1995, the number heroine users who used injection as the route of administration was slightly less than the number of heroine users who used the intranasal route (Des Jarlais et al., 2010). This difference gradually grew over time and by
Needle exchange programs are one of the main harm reduction measures that aim to curb the spread of blood-borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis C among injecting drug users (IDUs). With an estimated 1 in 5 injecting drug users worldwide infected with HIV