Positive results from needle exchange programme

Needle exchange schemes are controversial.

Why should we give needles to addicts? Why spend tax payers money to allow these people to inject themselves? Why in my back yard? Why help at all?

needle exchangeThese are typical and predictable sentiments but betray a false economy. Needle exchange, though actually difficult to study in depth, is of proven benefit in disease reduction, reducing or eliminating needle sharing and thus disease transmission, and taking many needles off the streets to reduce also the change of accidental sharps injury to an innocent member of the public, a street sweeper or waste handler.

A recent report from Santa Cruz County, US, records distribution of not less that 50,000 clean syringes and needles in the first 3 months of its operation! That vast amount might, in the first instances, suggest that much of America is drug ravaged and high as a kite.

However, they took in slightly more needles than they gave out, and county officials say they are starting to gain the trust of the local intravenous drug user community as they work to halt the spread of communicable diseases such as hepatitis C and AIDS and keep infection rates on the decline.

Fantastic, and congratulations to all involved.

Some caution is needed, since in US collection arrangements for diabetic needles is generally poor and some of the excess may have been unrelated to IV drug users. But nonetheless, the scheme is of value. 55,000 or more needles not being shared. 55,000 fewer disease transmission opportunities; 55,000 fewer needles dropped into Coke Cola cans, and in all probability 55,000 fewer items of discarded drug litter to contaminate the community and invoke feelings of fear and revulsion, as well as costing vast sums of money to retrieve, since no other disposal route would be available.

Though needle exchange schemes remain controversial, this is a win-win situation and nobody should object, even if its located in their own back yard!

 

 

 

 

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