Friday, March 28, 2008
Needle in a Haystack
With the unfortunate growing rate of drug addiction, there are higher risks to people contracting diseases from the use of unsanitary needles. Although I do not support the use of any drugs, I think we need to make a change to stop this careless spread of diseases, and one way we can do this is by allowing a needle Exchange Program. Yes it may essentially allow drug users to keep using, but at least they are using in a safe and clean way. With a needle exchange program, dirty used needles will be taken from the streets in exchange for a new clean one, which eventually will lead to cleaner streets, and more importantly, a decline in the spread of diseases such as AIDS and HIV. Statistics have shown that over 75% of infection in newborns comes from a parent who has injected with an unsanitary needle. Not only are the users and addicts paying the price for their addiction, so are the babies and children who never had a choice. Users are going to use weather the needle is clean or not, that has been proven, but surely if they can get clean needles they would. This program would benefit so many lives of so many people. Drug addiction in a serious disease I do not think this program will increase the rate of drug users in any way, and it will definitely show a huge decline in the spread of incurable diseases.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
For the most part, I think that Shane Finnegan is right on target in his piece "Needle in a Haystack" which was posted on his blog "Hill country Views". In his posting he makes a strong argument in support of needle exchange programs in Texas. These programs are run by trained professionals that perform outreach work with IV drug users, exchanging used hypodermic needles for clean new ones in hope of stopping the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. There are a couple of "points" that I would like to add to this topic and the first is that in 2007 Governor Perry did sign a Medicaid reform bill (SB 10) into law. This bill included a provision authorizing the first legal needle exchange program in Texas. There is a pilot needle exchange program that exists in San Antonio. Hopefully we will start seeing more programs like this one starting up in other areas of the state where they are needed. The second thing that I would like to add is that needle exchange programs are not only proven to reduce the spread of disease from IV drug users using and sharing hypodermic needles (as Finnegan clearly explained), but they also provide an opportunity to connect addicts to treatment. Yes, disease prevention is the goal of these programs, but many of them also provide drug counseling and treatment. This is an outreach opportunity that would otherwise never exist. Let’s face it; these programs are the only hope of putting trained professionals in regular contact with actively using drug addicts, creating an opportunity for exposure to treatment options and education of disease prevention (the old washing the needles with bleach and toilet water trick just doesn't cut it).
This is a very well written editorial by shane finnegan, I like that he's basically pointed the finger to the government to do something about the growing drug addicts and the industry. Although I would put a little bit more facts like quote some one or a newspaper article. I do agree with you drugs are becoming an even bigger deal than people thought it was going to be. Drugs have always been a big deal but today they are a serious issue that needs to be dealt with by the government. But like I said I liked the editorial and if you added some quoted facts then it would be perfect, good job.
When I first read this article I strongly disagreed with Shane's opinion. I simply thought that giving drug addicts clean needles was just enabling them to continue their pernicious habit. A few minutes after I finished reading the article I though about a few friends I have had that have dealt with the heavy burden of drug addiction. With them in mind, I completely changed my opinion on this issue. Many narcotic users know how bad their addiction is and genuinely want to stop using drugs. It is incredibly hard for those who are addicted, especially those who are addicted to strong narcotics like heroin, to fight for their sobriety and usually they cannot do it alone. This program gives them clean needles to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS, which in itself is almost a good enough reason for this program, but it also puts the drug addicts in contact with people who have both accepted the fact that the person is an addict and who have the desire to help the addict. People with drug addictions often need this combination in order for them to seek help for overcoming their addiction. This program can do that, so I believe that this program can help those with who come for the clean needles stop using those needles.
Post a Comment