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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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The truth is the medical community holds the patient hostage for profits off of the remedies procured from people at no cost to them. Scientist play the game of supply and demand with a vengeance. When children are ill, mothers are dying there is no dollar amount that can be equated with the preservation of life. Scientist, researchers and pharmaceutical companies know this and they attach exuberant prices to the remedies, treatments and cures. When the science community found a way to control HIV/ AIDS, very few people were able to get treatment because it was very expensive.

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In addition to the previous reasons, choosing this center allows for a new location and environment for Mikayla. My husband and I are the only people she knows in Skagit County, so she would lose connection with the friends and individuals who enabled her addiction in the past. As NPR reported (http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/01/05/371894919/what-heroin-addiction-tells-us-about-changing-bad-habits), changing the environment of an addict is another key way to limit the chances of a relapse. During the Vietnam War, an estimated 15 percent of servicemen in Vietnam were addicted to heroin—a total of 20 percent self-identified as addicts. Despite fears to the contrary, they did not continue their addiction when they returned to the United States.

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Needle exchange programs are considered to be illegal in most states in America due to the social stigma that is the sterile syringes become available to the public then it will increase the rate of drug use. Despite the fact that all advantageous outcomes which are mentioned above, from needle exchange programs were scientifically proven by the research there is still a fear that by legalizing injection equipment the drug abuse would increase. Interesting that this argument still exist, because after numerous research no evidence were found that needle exchange programs will lead to increased drug injection (National Research Council ). The philosopher Immanuel Kant would say that it is not ethical to provide clean syringes to drug addicts

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At the time of trial, he was in his tenth year of recovery from addiction; his health insurance covered his treatment. Leno learned of needle exchange programs from a National AIDS Brigade lecturer. Leno worked for needle exchange programs in Boston, in New Haven, Connecticut, and in New York City. Leno started a needle exchange program in Lynn in September, 1990, after realizing that "in my own back yard ... people were dying of AIDS ... and this particular service was not offered to them." Leno testified that he believed that by providing clean needles to addicts he was helping to stem the spread of AIDS, he was helping addicts, especially the homeless, to reach recovery, and that he was not helping addicts continue their

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Brytny Sharpe, RN at the VA hospital today and she stated, “one challenge we are currently facing is financial issues.” There isn’t enough funding for every program that the VA offers and sometimes it just can’t be avoided. There is money for medical research but not enough to remove those who are HIV positive in the late stage from general population without making them stand out like cold sores on the lip. We have federal funding and donations pouring in but we still need more.

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Snorting a crushed pill or a powder crosses the blood-brain barrier in a matter of seconds…”. Since the drug is easy to get and can have a better effect on the user’s body they will lean towards heroin even if they know of the harmful side effects. If we invest money towards classes that teach children,teens, and adults about these harmful drugs and the cost that comes with the drug then the people in Tucson will save thousands of dollars which the money can be funded into more drug prevention

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Their sample consisted of volunteer participants from a needle exchange program. Of the participants, most reported witnessing at least one overdose prior to the training, with the greatest percentage having witnessed between two and five. The OPP curriculum included information on preventing, identifying, and responding to an overdose and participants were trained to administer Naloxone. The vast majority of participants who witnessed an overdose after the initial training reported using their Naloxone with a positive outcome. This shows that opioid users can use the skills they obtain in OPP to identify overdoses and respond with Naloxone (Bennet, Bell, Tomedi, Hulsey, & Kral,

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The cost to help these sick/infected people would cost so much to help cure the worldwide spread. It would cost much more to cure the people, the government would have to pay the town, cities and states to work in the hospitals and clinics. Medical would not cover majority of the stuff the people would need to start treatment and stop the infection from spreading.

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These have proved to be effective in reducing drug related problems such as overdose or blood-borne infections. Early adoption and rapid expansion of these interventions can substantially reduce the impact of these problems, especially the infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (Gregario, et al., 2012) International scientific evidence suggests that needle exchange programmes (NEPs), through harm reduction strategies, such as needle sharing potentially reduce the spread of blood borne diseases associated with injection drug use. Studies have taken place in Canada where early evaluations of NEPs focused on the number of people reached, rates of needle and syringe exchange demographic characteristics and behavioural factors.

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In 2013 the heroin overdose rate was over nine thousand in the United States according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin abuse is a growing problem in the United States and has been for quite some time. Needle-exchange programs are supplying ample needles to heroin abusers. Although, they do reduce the risks of getting hepatitis C, needle-exchange programs are unethical and enabling. Giving a needle to a heroin addict is giving them permission to use the drug.

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Harm reduction makes it possible for drug abusers to use new needles without sharing due to having access to supplies and education. Studies have shown that in Canada the risk of HIV dropped drastically in the nineties after harm reduction intervention among drug users and by 2011, the number dropped from 40 percent to 1.7 percent among individuals who admitted to sharing needles. Further, harm reduction strategies, such as needle exchanges have led to a reduction in the spread of blood-borne diseases. Harm reduction is useful to individuals who may fail at rehabilitation. Therefore, harm reduction is seen as a way of letting a problem continue, while keeping it from getting

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Especially when the needle exchange program provides the resources to start or continue using intravenous drugs. But not only does it prevent well being, it also can start a new rise of intravenous drug

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If I was able to talk to someone from “A Long Walk to Water”, then I would talk to Salva. I would talk to Salva because I am very interested in his story. Salva’s story is very intense. The war had made him lose his family. The war had also put Salva, and his entire village in danger.

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These drug programs are court mandated, yet are not state regulated. These addicts view them as option when their craving kick back in and they are having an off day, and they leave. They view the risk of being incarcerated with greater reward rather than being in a drug program, so they never finish them. If these programs were ran by the state (and not an outside company), mandated that the addicts do not leave until a certain point of ability, and actually implemented, I feel that the opioid crisis will have hit a dent in

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This solution costs very little, reduces crime and any other social ills caused by drug use and doesn't involve legalization (Methadone Treatment). Many patients have to stay on the drug indefinitely, but this is no cause for concern (Methadone Treatment). At about $4,000 a year to participate in a treatment program, it's much cheaper than a heroin habit, which can cost 10 times as much. In the right dose, methadone doesn't produce a "high" or a sedative effect (Methadone Treatment). Patients remain clear-headed, alert and able to carry on with normal daily tasks (Methadone Treatment).

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