Clean Needle Program
Clean Needle Programs
In the article “A Case for Clean Needle Programs”, Breat Whitteker and Dawn Day argue that a clean needle program in the S.D. County could save hundreds of lives. One of the many benefits of establishing a clean needle program would be that it allows not only the S.D. County to save hundreds of millions of health care dollars but it allows other counties to do so as well.
Some who obstruct against this program believe that when sterile needles are given out, there is a double message being given out. Researchers say that an adequate clean needle program would not only save peoples lives but it would also save them millions of dollars that they would need for medical treatment(Whitteker & Day). Although some people would not agree with the clean needle program, it is my opinion that the clean needle program would help reduce the spread of HIV and clear unsterile needles off the streets.
Before the spread of the AIDs epidemic the Netherlands sought to prevent the expansion of hepatitis B, by granting addicts to exchange their used needles and syringes for new sterile ones. As the risk of AIDs continued to increase some cities such as Amsterdam, started expanded their clean needle programs. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 1991, researchers at the Municipal Health Service in Amsterdam reported that the HIV infection rates in a group of 622 drug injectors had remained stable for over 4 consecutive years (Consumer Reports, 466). Showing that these programs were not spreading the virus but keeping it stable. If the county of S.D. institutes these clean needle programs they
could stop the spread of HIV or hepatitis through these unsterilized needles.
On the contrary Robert Martinez the director of the Office of National Drug Control argues otherwise on this epidemic. Martinez stated that distributing clean needles “undercuts the credibility of society’s message that drug use in
In the article “A Case for Clean Needle Programs”, Breat Whitteker and Dawn Day argue that a clean needle program in the S.D. County could save hundreds of lives. One of the many benefits of establishing a clean needle program would be that it allows not only the S.D. County to save hundreds of millions of health care dollars but it allows other counties to do so as well.
Some who obstruct against this program believe that when sterile needles are given out, there is a double message being given out. Researchers say that an adequate clean needle program would not only save peoples lives but it would also save them millions of dollars that they would need for medical treatment(Whitteker & Day). Although some people would not agree with the clean needle program, it is my opinion that the clean needle program would help reduce the spread of HIV and clear unsterile needles off the streets.
Before the spread of the AIDs epidemic the Netherlands sought to prevent the expansion of hepatitis B, by granting addicts to exchange their used needles and syringes for new sterile ones. As the risk of AIDs continued to increase some cities such as Amsterdam, started expanded their clean needle programs. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 1991, researchers at the Municipal Health Service in Amsterdam reported that the HIV infection rates in a group of 622 drug injectors had remained stable for over 4 consecutive years (Consumer Reports, 466). Showing that these programs were not spreading the virus but keeping it stable. If the county of S.D. institutes these clean needle programs they
could stop the spread of HIV or hepatitis through these unsterilized needles.
On the contrary Robert Martinez the director of the Office of National Drug Control argues otherwise on this epidemic. Martinez stated that distributing clean needles “undercuts the credibility of society’s message that drug use in
Cited: "Can Clean Needles Slow The AIDS Epidemic?." Consumer Reports 59.7 (1994): 466. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. Webb, Marion. "Committee Supports Clean Needle Exchange Program." San Diego Business Journal 21.38 (2000): 77.MasterFILE Premier. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. Whitteker, Breat, and Day Dawn. "A Case for Clean Needle Programs." n.d., n. pag. Print.