The purpose of Needle Exchange programs are to reduce the increasing number of infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C among individuals by providing clean needles and syringes to drug users who inject themselves. These government funded programs supply free clean needles to drug addicts so that they are at a lower risk of sharing needles and spreading diseases.
There are many supporters for Needle Exchange programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016), state “syringe service programs are an effective component of a comprehensive, integrated approach to HIV prevention among people who inject drugs”. Additional support comes from Allen, Ruiz, Jones, & Turner (2016). These advocate 's report, “syringe exchange programs play
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Education about overdose or providing referrals to medical and social services such as health screenings are offered. Also, incorporating harm reduction strategies into public health interventions for people who inject drugs may be helpful in resolving other health care (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).
One argument against Needle Exchange programs is that by providing needles and syringes to addicts, the government is essentially condoning illicit and immoral behavior (“Debate: Needle exchanges”). Drug users are continuously given free access of clean utensil to shoot up. Instead of providing them access, the government should focus on punishing drug users, discourage drug-use, and provide more treatment for quitting
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Each time an addict injects themselves, they are at risk of overdosing and potentially dying. If the government is really concerned about the health and well-being of addicts, they should implement strategies to treat the addicts. A good metaphor is used in the article “Say No To Needle Distribution Programs, (2014) the metaphor refers to Russian Roulette in that handing out clean needles is a form of Russian Roulette. A user can go and get needles numerous times and be fine but one they will be unlucky and one day the addict 's needle will be the last needle
• Stop over-prescription of opioids and get rid of unused medications. Mr. Shapiro pledged to work with the medical community to reduce the over-prescription and direct the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation to analyze the state’s Schedules II controlled substances prescription database to detect deliberate over-prescription. • Enforce drug addiction treatment laws to reduce barriers to treatment. Through this initiative he would enforce federal and state laws requiring insurers to pay for drug addiction treatment services as well as advocate for changes in state and federal law that will it easier for individuals to get the treatment they
In “How About Low-Cost Drugs for Addicts?” (1995), Louis Nizer argues that drug addiction is a serious problem and we are losing the ability to gain control over drug addiction. Nizer suggests the government should create clinics that provide drugs free or at nominal cost and be staffed by psychiatrists. The benefits of the new approach will push the mob to lose the main source of its income, the drug dealers will run out of business, and the police or other law enforcement authorities would be freed to take care of other crimes. Nizer also believes that free drugs will win the war against domestic terrorism caused by addicts. On the other hand, Nizer provides some of the opposing arguments that providing free drugs would consign a person to
In Chris McGreal’s “Don’t blame addicts for America’s opioid crisis. Here are the real culprits” and Johann Hari’s “What’s really causing the prescription drug crisis?” both authors inform their readers about addiction. This topic is worthy of discussion because it effects each and everyone one of us whether it be up close or afar. The two authors have similar opinions about the problem of addiction, but offer different ways to cope with it.
EpiPen With the recent price increase for the life saving EpiPen many families are being forced to either pay the absurd amount for the drug or to risk their safety and go without one. This imperative device is a prefilled syringe that inject a small dosage of epinephrine into the thigh muscle which suppresses the immune system to open up the airways closed off by fatal allergic reactions such as bee stings or nuts. For 43 Billion people across Americans the EpiPen is a necessity to daily life. One that which many people now are deciding to go without.
Over the past few years, the addiction of heroin has increased due to varieties of reason in different communities across the United States. The majority of media attention is focused on suburban, white, middle-class heroin abusers, meaning that the majority of America’s effort and resources to end the Heroin Epidemic is mainly for the White Community. Resulting in a dramatic increase of deaths caused from Heroin overdose in the minority communities in the past seven years. In the article, “How the Heroin Epidemic Differs in Communities of Color” by Sarah Childress, mentions how certain minority communities lack medical access for Heroin overdose (e.g. Naloxone) and knowledge of laws to protect the drug users from incarceration, Maryland’s
The “Bluff” needle exchange program was a program that helped advocate AIDS and promoted a greater hygienic approach to drug use. In turn, this helped combat the transmissions of HIV. Because the Drug Paraphernalia Law made it illegal for people to carry needles, it caused people to turn to shooting galleries instead. For instance, instead of the law combating the use of drugs, the sharing of needles caused an increase in the spread of the disease. The “Bluff” is an interesting and thought-provoking concept because of the conflicting opinions about the program from the community.
America's prisons are overpopulated and the population is growing each year with increased drug activities. Low level drug offenders, comprised of 39 percent of the overall prison population. In the article " Department of Justice low-level drug offenders: a defense perspective" defines low-level drug offender as one who has been convicted drug trafficking offense but has no prior commitment, history of violence, known involvement of sophisticated criminal activity, significant "public risk factor," and pending detainer (Katz 28) . This group isn't hardened criminals and don't live a life of crime; rather they are motivated by profit. They are less likely to return to prison when compared to hardened criminals.
The war on drugs was launched as an effort to prevent and reduce substance abuse and addiction. Exclusively, focusing on white, middle-class children, and possibly demonizing others, particularly minorities. Nevertheless, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America campaign used a different approach. This campaign “utilized volunteer talent working together against a single social problem to help young people live free of drug and alcohol abuse, and to assist parents in prevention efforts. The organization gets input from scientists, therapist, community activist, researchers, law enforcement, and offers resources for parents and teenagers.”
"With over a 100 people in the United States becoming infected with HIV, HCV, or HBV every day as a result of injection drug use”(Franciscus). Needle exchange programs were implanted for the purpose of reducing injection user’s risk of bloodborne diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted diseases. These programs “provide sterile needles in exchange for contaminated or used needles, increase access to sterile needles and to remove contaminated syringes from circulation in the community” (Vlahov 77). This program promotes a better outcome for these needle drug users. Although some argue that these types of programs are not being implanted to improve the community, but instead that they are promoting drug use by “feeding”
I. Importance: As American deaths from drug overdoses continue to rise in the United States, the nation is faced with a public health crisis so profound that in October 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic to be a national public health emergency (Merica). President Trump’s declaration came after numerous studies indicating the danger opioid addiction posed; for example, a 2016 study entitled “Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths—United States, 2010-2015” claimed that drug overdose deaths “nearly tripled during 1999-2014,” reaching a startling high 52,404 deaths in 2015 (Rudd, et al). These statistics are more than just disturbing revelations regarding the opioid crisis; they are evidence of a serious problem that is rapidly affecting the lives of more and more Americans every year. Death by overdose is not the only public policy concern, however, as millions of Americans are also addicted to prescription opioids.
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
Opioids is a big issue because Americans are addicted to drugs especially opioids. After a surgery doctors give patients opioids because they are a pain killer. After patients have been taking opioids they soon are not in pain anymore but they keep taking the pills because it makes their body feel relieved. People get addicted to this and can’t function without them.
However, hospitals have changed the approach to pain management but still haven 't made a change. More hospitals still provide opioids to patients with the dependence on the drug. Overall, the opioid addiction represents a serious issue in American society. The best solution in decreasing the number of overdoses is the low dosages of opioids provided by hospitals and doctors.
Drug Addiction Imagine a life where someone is controlled by something that doesn't have a pulse, controlled by a substance that they can see ruining their life but for some reason they can't control the outcome. Substance abuse costs the health care system about $11 billion, with overall costs reaching $193 billion. That $11 Billion dollars could go to treating the addiction rather than treating the outcome, and instead of locking up low level drug offenders, we as a society should help them through their difficult time. And according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 27 million Americans, or 10.2% of the American population over the age of 12 reported using illicit drugs in 2014. 10% of our society is
The continuous use of narcotics results in addiction, and financial struggles due to the costly upkeep. “Financial problems are one of the major side effects of drug and substance abuse” (Buaggett, 2015). Addicts cannot adequately take an active role in the economic activities, as the use of drugs inhibits the abilities of the users to earn a daily living. Due to the instability of finances, this would result in selling personal belongings to continue funding the substance of choice, and depending on the addicts living situation, this could lead to losing their house or being removed from their current housing. While being under the influence, an addicts voice of reason is jeopardized, resulting in criminal activities which raise the chances of being apprehended by the law enforcers, as well as, heavy fines are imposed.