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Pros And Cons Of Needle Exchange Programs

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Needle Exchange Programs: An Unconventional Method Since its discovery in the late 1970’s, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been a topic of much concern throughout the United States (HIV/AIDS: Basic Statistics, 2015). One such concern is the attempt to lower the transmission rate by intravenous drug user (IDU’s) by opening needle exchange programs where they can swap their used needles for clean ones. The goals of these programs are to not only lower HIV and AIDS cases, but to also help with the rising spread of various forms of viral Hepatitis, both of which can be spread through contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids. It may sound absurd to give a drug user the tools necessary to get high, but despite the risks that may be involved, …show more content…

The biggest concern comes from the majority of society that cite that it is wrong to provide addicts with the tools they need to get high and that it will inevitably lead to more types of drug abuse if it is made easier for them to get high to begin with. Also, these programs are, for the majority, being funded by tax payer’s dollars and a lot people feel as if addicts are not worth spending their hard earned money on, in any way. As far as the individual communities where these programs now exist, there is the fear that places of this nature will bring in more addicts and as a result the crime rate will go up (Ackerman, 2015). The crux of the concern is revolved around moral dilemmas and is rooted in what each individual feels, personally, is bad about such programs. However, the concern over the cost of needle exchange programs can be addressed with basic math/economics. The average cost to treat someone with HIV/AIDS is approximately 200,000 dollars. Likewise, it cost about 30,000 dollars to treat one person with Hepatitis C. When compared to the amount of diseases that are prevented every year by needle exchange programs, one cannot dismiss their viability; 21,000 cases of Hepatitis can be prevented every year and it only cost up to 12,000 per year to provide clean needles so they will not spread the disease that way (“Cost-Effectiveness”,

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