Needle Exchange Programs Essay

Although these clients will still be abusing illegal substances, Sheon (2004) indicated that any reduction of harm is a step in the right direction, and the amount of success is measured by the client’s quality of life and well-being (as cited in Brown et al., 2005). “Harm reduction is about being respectful in somebody else’s world” (Georgina Perry, Service manager and co-author, England as cited in Cusick et al., 2010). By not respecting somebody else’s choices, the clients feel they must lie about their unhealthy lifestyles, which prevents the clients from getting assistance because they were trying to protect themselves from the real situation (Georgina Perry, Service manager and co-author, England as cited in Cusick et al., 2010). A way to reduce the harm from illegal substance abuse is clean needle exchange, and teaching clients how to properly inject themselves (Brown et al., 2005). The needle exchange is a program where clients exchange their used needles for clean ones, which helps reduce the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS (Brown et al., 2005). With continuation of these programs the harm from abusing illegal substances is reduced and the spread of life threatening diseases, such as HIV,

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

In August of 2016, twenty-six people lives changed, and may never be fixed. In only one week these twenty-six people overdosed on heroin, which three of them died (Police). This is the unseen epidemic because of how unaware people are. People are blind to the prevalence in our community, rising rate of deaths, and seizures, lastly that Narcan will become counterproductive. This unseen epidemic is growing faster than anyone knows, and has to be addressed head on.

Needle exchange programs have long been a controversial subject with both the general population and government lawmakers. The primary objective for needle exchange programs (NEPs) is to prevent the spread of blood-borne disease and is very successful in doing so. But, issues of morality due to the perception of drug enablement and the stigma of intravenous drug users (IDUs) and their potential effects on the decline of society are continually used as arguments for those against NEPs. It has been proven through many studies that these programs not only reduce harms associated with intravenous drug use, they are also cost effective and reduce the circulation of used syringes to the general population. Beyond epidemiological efforts, NEPs also provide a de-stigmatized center for gathering and offers health services such as HIV testing, counselling and referrals to treatment for drug addiction. This paper aims to highlight the efficacy of needle exchange programs, safe injection sites and address the social and political issues associated with them.

Illicit drugs in general are a major problem worldwide, more specifically IV drugs. Adopting needle exchange programs is a good way to reduce IV drug addiction and effects. Not only do drugs become addicting, but they ruin you and your loved ones lives and needle exchange programs can help reduce this problem. Needle exchange programs exchange dirty, used needles and syringes for clean ones, and have additional services: helps get homeless people off the street, rehab options, and mental health services. Even though they give out clean needles and syringes, they do not support drug use and do not allow you to use them on site. Needle exchange programs

A safe injection site (SIS) has been placed in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside where drug use is a challenging problem. The program is a vital piece of the cities known harm reduction approach to its serious problems with homelessness, drugs, crime and AIDS. Canada has drastically shifted its method. Going from punishing drug users to establishing the plan of harm reduction. Since 2003 when the supervised SIS opened, it has presented a safe health-focused center where drug users have access to inject illegal drugs using sterile equipment in a clean environment under the supervision of medically trained professionals. Although there are some serious concerns about the

In 2003, 99 cities with needle exchanges saw HIV rates drop, and cities without NEP’s had an increase in HIV (Rosenberg). When needle exchange programs are set up and used properly it can benefit the community and lower HIV rates because dirty needles aren't being shared. They don't only distribute clean needles, they also distribute cotton, sterile cookers, sterile water bottles, and alcohol wipes. Some programs also distribute bleach, condoms, and health pamphlets (Normand, Vlahov, Moses).Not only do they give out sterile needles but they also give out many other items to keep people from spreading diseases so people can be more clean while using heroin. Some heroin users come to the program to make sure they aren't passing HIV along to anyone else (Biello).

Imagine that you are the pilot of a plane traveling to a new and exciting destination. Early in the journey the plane takes off and soars high into the sky where you feel like you are on top of the world, looking down from above at all of the beauty underneath you. On the way to your destination you are anxious and full of excitement in anticipation of the new journey that you are about to experience when all of the sudden your plane starts to shake and you find yourself losing control. At this point you have two options: You can try to change course to regain control and make it through the turbulence or you can continue with what you are doing and let the plane spiral to the ground in a firey crash. This scenario is similar to the life

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

An increase in drug use, specifically opiates, has overwhelmed the United States. This behavior has led to a rise in the transmission of HIV/Hepatitis C which would be otherwise preventable. The needle exchange programs in Moorhead, Milwaukee, and Scott County are working to lower the transmission rate and increase participation in treatment programs.

In the pro column clean needles help reduce the risk of contaminated needles when shared. Heroin addicts when sharing needles can be at risk to being exposed to hepatitis, HIV and other bloodborne pathogens. Also, in some of these locations will test for bloodborne pathogens and give counseling advice. On the flip side of the issue, some people believe new needles promote further drug abuse. Many of these programs are funded by tax dollars that are not proven themselves during the recent epidemic. One last issue. Many see crime increase in the area where these clinics are located due to the influx of

In conclusion, methadone clinics and needle exchange programs have many stigmas linked to them due to the biases that have been associated with these programs in the past. The programs are trying to create ways to encourage more drug users to use the programs available especially the needle exchange program for those who inject

One problem with Anderson as a community seems to be drugs. There has been a major heroin outbreak, taking lives, affecting those around young or old. With the rise of the needle exchange program it has become much easier for drug abusers to access new, clean needles to use. The needle exchange program is a program that provides clean, sterile syringes in exchange for used syringes from injection-drug users, the goal is to stop the spread of bloodborne pathogens.

To put a stop to drug addictions it's in the patient's best interest to stop the consumption of the drugs they use. If we condone the consumption of opioids in public hospitals I believe it will lead people to interpret this drug as a safe thing to use. “Safe Injection Sites” are not a valid response to the opioid epidemic because they will not help addicts, which in turn causes brain damage, death, and sanitary hazards for U.S. citizens.

There are many ways in which people who are addicted to intravenous drugs are perceived by our society. People sometimes believe the addicted person is to blame for their circumstance and substance dependence and some feel serious drug addicts are a “lost cause” due to a lack of values or flawed character. “Persons who struggle with addictions often are depicted as criminals or prostitutes, weak, lazy and morally corrupt” (Bartlett, R., Brown, L., Shattell, M., Wright, T., Lewallen, L. (2013). These stereotypes paint people with addiction negatively; a percentage of people who live with serious addiction are capable of recovery with the right attitude, support and healthcare. Street level healthcare services such as; safe injection sites, provide accessable resources at street level for people to make the choice to live healthier lifestyles. Govement funding and support is needed to make these projects possible to improve the health of Canadians. Safe injection sites are proven to be positive contributions to communities, save lives, reduce harm and open doors towards recovery for people from the grip of addiction.