Needle Exchange Programs- Reducing Health Risks that come with Drug Addiction

November 22nd, 2011 | Add a Comment

Needle exchange programs provide clean needles to intravenous drug users to decrease risk of contracting a disease through needle sharing. They provide users with needles, cotton balls, tourniquets, metal pots for cooking drugs, alcohol swabs and condoms. Along with providing these items for safer practices they also give users some access to health treatment. They give STD testing and vaccination and treat users with abscesses. They also provide the users with treatment information if they are seeking a way into recovery.

These exchanges have come under much scrutiny for providing addicts with the means to use their drugs. At one point the U.S. government banned needle exchange programs, and it was illegal in some states to possess a syringe without a prescription and police would often arrest users leaving private needle exchange programs.

The problem is that many people who oppose these programs do not have a clear picture on addiction and have no relation to this disease. The truth of the matter is an addict is going to use regardless of having a clean needle or not. Providing them with clean paraphernalia only reduces the risks of contracting disease, it is not meant to stop drug use. These programs also do not promote drug use; most people do not decide to shoot up because they got a clean needle from an exchange program. Most drug users begin using with other methods before turning to intravenous use, and have already been addicted to a substance for some time. Most of the people who use these services are people who cannot get clean needles and are often living on the streets or in conditions of extreme poverty.

Many people who do not want needle exchange programs around do not know anything about addiction and think it is the users fault. They feel that this is making drug use out to be not as bad as it is, and that it will attract more people to use. On the other hand the drug problem is rampant throughout the world and affects people of all different walks of life. If your friend or relative was out on the street injecting drugs they are hopefully using a clean needle and the only way they can get one is through an exchange service. It is not always the user’s choice to continue use and may wish to stop but suffer from physical dependence with no treatment to effectively help with disease.

People have legitimate fears of needle exchange programs creating a place where users gather and increasing crime in that area. While homeowners who have more expensive living and pay more taxes do not like this, there must have been a significant drug problem in the area to need an exchange service. Crime comes with drugs, but just because a needle exchange program exposes the problem by attracting users to one place does not mean the problem did not exist beforehand it is only bringing it to the light.

Many exchanges often do not distribute needles and require the users to trade their dirty needle for a clean one, meaning a new user cannot just show up and acquire a needle to use with. The fact that these programs exist at all is a testament to the growing problem and the lack of effectiveness in which it is being addressed. While treatment can be successful not all addicts can receive treatment. And arresting users does not stop them from using and does not curb the crime that comes with narcotics even if they can bring down large distributors; the demand grows every day. So until there are better solutions needle exchanges will be there for those who need it and do not receive support or care from anywhere else.