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Drug Abuse and Needle Exchange

com) In San Diego, as reported by Maria Arcega-Dunn (2013 Nov20) a young girl playing on the sand in Ocean Beach was pricked in her finger by a used hypodermic needle while building sand castles. It's noted in article that at same beach a few months earlier the same thing happened to a five year old boy. As if this is not enough to promote some sort of change, there is a partner issue of health disorders that not only haunt the people who accidently come into contact with these needles, but the actual IV drug user that contract diseases such as Hepatitis, HIV and a host of other ailments from sharing and used needles.
             In April 2014 it was estimated that 36% of HIV diagnosed cases contracted the disease from sharing needles (U.S center for Disease control). The Illinois Public Health Department reports that IV drug users have an 80percent chance on contracting Hepatitis C from needle sharing. These diseases require very expensive and aggressive treatments. Some treatments call for medication that can be as much as $1000 per pill. Hospitals do not typically make a habit of turning away sick people and most street IV drug users don't not have health insurance therefore cannot pay . When you consider the fact that someone must pay for their treatment one can understand the large financial strain on the Healthcare system. This burden is past down to the tax payers (you and I). With these situations in play the needle exchange program (NEP) was born.
             A needle exchange program is based on a harm reduction model of service. It is set up to have intravenous (IV) drug users exchange their used syringes for new ones. The goal is to stop or slow down the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV as well as stop used needles from being discarded in places where kids play. Unlike the law enforcement model which simply wants to punish users with arrest and stiff jail terms, harm reduction wants to meet the addict where they are while not condoning their drug use gives them a safe way to use and dispose of their used syringes.


Essays Related to Drug Abuse and Needle Exchange

1. Needle Exchange Programs

... on-going drug abuse. The federal government states, "That needle exchange programs where injection drug users exchange used needles for sterile syringes does not promote drug abuse" (State Legislature, 2002). However, the federal government continues to ban the use of federal funds to support needle exchange programs. Despite the scientific findings documenting the effectiveness of needle exchange programs, and the evidence ... that unsafe injection practices continue to be the direct or indirect cause of one in three AIDS cases reported in the United States, the future of needle exchan...

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2. Needle Exchange Programs

... been successful when there are the strong support of their communities. Another thing usually needed for needle exchange programs to work is when the programs refer their participants to rehab and necessary medical services, and let the participants have replacement needles available only when needed. "This nation is fighting two deadly epidemics - AIDS and drug abuse. They are robbing us of far too many of our citizens ... and weakening our future," said Secretary Shalala. "A meticulous scientific review has now proven that needle exchange programs can reduce that transmission of HIV a...

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3. Needle Exchange Programs

... infections. Brian Cattelle, with the Lighthouse Recovery Institute, reports that needle exchange centers do more than just exchange syringes. At any given exchange center you will find HIV and STD testing on site, HIV/AIDS education and counseling, condom distribution, Drug Rehabilitation access in addition to safe disposal of used syringes. Drug addicts are given alternatives to drug abuse and are encouraged to accept the help being offered. The US Surgeon ... General has reported that, "After reviewing all of the research to date, the senior scientists of the Department and I have una...

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4. Drug Addiction and Prostitution

... The topic I am going to talk about is the association between drug addiction and street prostitution. There is a strong relationship between substance abuse and prostitution. One third of women addicts support their habit by working as prostitutes. This is where the economic theory is linked; women prostitute themselves for money intended for the purpose ... for money for her next hit. She is currently incarcerated for putting a syringe to a taxi driver's neck and telling him that if he didn't give her his money, she would poke him with the AIDS infected needle. The most common addicti...

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5. Drug Addiction and Prostitution

... The topic I am going to talk about is the association between drug addiction and street prostitution. There is a strong relationship between substance abuse and prostitution. One third of women addicts support their habit by working as prostitutes. This is where the economic theory is linked; women prostitute themselves for money intended for the purpose ... for money for her next hit. She is currently incarcerated for putting a syringe to a taxi driver's neck and telling him that if he didn't give her his money, she would poke him with the AIDS infected needle. The most common addicti...

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6. Drug Debate

... the spread of diseases, such as AIDS, through injection drug use. According to a study in 1996 "Drug paraphernalia laws in 47 U.S. states make it illegal for injection drug users to posses syringes". (www.csdp.org/factbook/syringee.htm) This law effectively bans needle exchange programs (since they would be giving needles to drug users who are banned from having them). The study ... our basic civil rights principles but are also moving us closer and closer to police states. International drug policies are ridiculous. Prohibition now causes far more harm than the drug abuse itself. Legaliz...

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7. Aids In Canada

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8. Methadone Misconceptions

... was intended to reduce the social ills associated with heroin addiction. Most individuals presenting with heroin addiction have become the face of drug addiction for mainstream society: the addict in the gutter syndrome, hopelessly addicted with a needle in his arm. However, the same social ills associated with heroin addiction can be seen with the individual addicted or cross- ... of drug addiction than the treatment protocol served as established. This particular study determined that many participants had become recreational users of methadone, while remaining addicted to heroin and ot...

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9. AIDS: A growing epidemic

... jumped from monkeys to humans (Gorman, 1998, p.64). During the 1970's, drug abuse was growing and heroine was popular. People injected heroine into their bodies using a needle. These drug users soon set up a "shooting gallery" where people could buy drugs and rent equipment. The History of AIDS 8 equipment that they rented had already been used and was not sterile. This was an ideal place for the AIDS ... virus to live and spread. That is exactly what happened (Kanabus & Allen, 2000). Blood transfusions also played a role in international exchange. This procedure ... was becoming a big ...

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