Harm Reduction: Needle Exchange Programs (NEPs)
What is harm reduction?
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs ("Principles of Harm Reduction").
Due to the harm that injecting drug use is causing on the spread of disease, we must have this needle exchange program to lower the odds of the spread. Common diseases spread through intravenous users are HIV, hepatitis B and, hepatitis C. West Virginia is having a huge heroin epidemic and needle exchange programs are popping up in hopes to help lessen the diseases spread among users. The …show more content…
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that heroin use has soared in recent years, from 373,000 yearly users in 2007 to 669,000 in 2012".Addicts are more likely to use the same needle with every injection until the needle is unusable.("Your First Step") Addicts in active addiction are also more likely to receive treatment due to these needle exchange programs. However, there is controversy because some people think these programs give addicts the mindset that it 's alright to inject illegal drugs. (McCarton, "Pros and Cons")“We don’t have any study from anywhere showing there is any increase in injectable drug use or drug use in general associated with providing syringes to people,” (Dr. Sharon Stancliff, "We Heart WV"; "Heroin Gains Popularity as Cheap Doses Flood the …show more content…
Therefore, why not lower harm. The chance that it may help is better than not trying at all. The main concern is giving the user a clean needle.(your first step).Another success other than lowering the spread of life threatening disease is that addicts seek and enter treatment due to NEPs. "They do not increase crime or drug use."(U.S. Centers for Disease Control; "We Heart WV"). That quote proves that the harm is not being increased.
Huntington’s responses to its surging opioid epidemic so far is a needle exchange program, the first in West Virginia and one of only a handful in the heart of Appalachia, the 13-state region hardest hit by the opioid epidemic (Vestal,"PBS").
ImageThe programs recommend treatment and some addicts go on to treatment and learn from these programs about different types of treatment. (McCarton "pros and cons"). Ackerman McCarton said "But contrary to the criticisms, studies show these programs can generally help to improve the situations of thousands of IV drug abusers. In fact, data indicates that addicts involved in these programs are actually more likely to attend long-term rehab than those who
What is harm reduction?
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs ("Principles of Harm Reduction").
Due to the harm that injecting drug use is causing on the spread of disease, we must have this needle exchange program to lower the odds of the spread. Common diseases spread through intravenous users are HIV, hepatitis B and, hepatitis C. West Virginia is having a huge heroin epidemic and needle exchange programs are popping up in hopes to help lessen the diseases spread among users. The …show more content…
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that heroin use has soared in recent years, from 373,000 yearly users in 2007 to 669,000 in 2012".Addicts are more likely to use the same needle with every injection until the needle is unusable.("Your First Step") Addicts in active addiction are also more likely to receive treatment due to these needle exchange programs. However, there is controversy because some people think these programs give addicts the mindset that it 's alright to inject illegal drugs. (McCarton, "Pros and Cons")“We don’t have any study from anywhere showing there is any increase in injectable drug use or drug use in general associated with providing syringes to people,” (Dr. Sharon Stancliff, "We Heart WV"; "Heroin Gains Popularity as Cheap Doses Flood the …show more content…
Therefore, why not lower harm. The chance that it may help is better than not trying at all. The main concern is giving the user a clean needle.(your first step).Another success other than lowering the spread of life threatening disease is that addicts seek and enter treatment due to NEPs. "They do not increase crime or drug use."(U.S. Centers for Disease Control; "We Heart WV"). That quote proves that the harm is not being increased.
Huntington’s responses to its surging opioid epidemic so far is a needle exchange program, the first in West Virginia and one of only a handful in the heart of Appalachia, the 13-state region hardest hit by the opioid epidemic (Vestal,"PBS").
ImageThe programs recommend treatment and some addicts go on to treatment and learn from these programs about different types of treatment. (McCarton "pros and cons"). Ackerman McCarton said "But contrary to the criticisms, studies show these programs can generally help to improve the situations of thousands of IV drug abusers. In fact, data indicates that addicts involved in these programs are actually more likely to attend long-term rehab than those who