State Of Syringe Access Informative Speech

Beilenson and his team lobbed the rest of the year, focusing their discussions on each county’s needs and views to win more votes. With the statistics and the discussion that focused on each county, Beilenson was able to win enough votes and win the governor’s approval to get the law passed and establish the needle exchange program in Baltimore (Beilenson, 67). In my opinion I agree that the needle exchange program should be established. I think that the program is great to offer, needles, HIV tests, everything they need to use drugs safely not only helps the drug addicts but the people who are around them. I think that these programs have helped decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS and will continue to do so in the future. I disagree that the program makes it easier for addicts to pursue their illegal habits because; they are not supplying the drugs, but rather helping decrease the spread of disease. Most of the addicts don’t want to quit using drugs, the ones that do have the help with this program, but the people who don’t will use dirty used needles which then will increase the spread of

Vancouver is a city with multiple “claims to fame”. Known to be one of the worlds most livable, expensive, and beautiful cities, it is also well known for its large population of drug users, and the detrimental effects intravenous drugs have had on the Downtown East Side community. One of the major concerns connected to intravenous drug use is the large proportion of users who report a history of needle sharing, greatly increasing their chances of contracting HIV, Hepatitis B or C, and other injection related infections (Strike, Myers & Millson, 2004). With an estimated 15000 intravenous drug users (IDUs) currently residing in Vancouver, and up to an estimated 125000 nationally, the Canadian government has taken a proactive “Harm Reduction” stance allowing the implementation of controversial Needle Exchange Programs (NEPs) throughout most of the country (Weekes & Cumberland). Canada’s first NEP opened in Toronto in 1987, with Vancouver following suit in 1989. While it was still considered an offence to possess drugs under the Canadian Criminal Code, section S.462.2 stated that it was “not an offence […] to distribute needles to prevent the spread of HIV infection” (Weekes & Cumberland). The goal of these early NEPs was to supply IDUs with injection equipment to eliminate the necessity for needle sharing between users, operating on a strict “one for one” model. For each used needle returned, it would be replaced with a new, sterile

Illicit drugs in general are a major problem worldwide, more specifically IV drugs. Adopting needle exchange programs is a good way to reduce IV drug addiction and effects. Not only do drugs become addicting, but they ruin you and your loved ones lives and needle exchange programs can help reduce this problem. Needle exchange programs exchange dirty, used needles and syringes for clean ones, and have additional services: helps get homeless people off the street, rehab options, and mental health services. Even though they give out clean needles and syringes, they do not support drug use and do not allow you to use them on site. Needle exchange programs

In addition, drug-related deaths have occurred in this community. Therefore, a safe injection site is a priority for Esquimalt. Moreover, safe injection sites have been proven to save taxpayer’s dollars. According to Kerr and Woods (2009), an individual who uses intravenous drugs has an increased risk of contracting HIV. The lifetime cost of HIV per person is approximately $150,000. However, with proper intervention to decrease HIV rates, the healthcare system saves $130,000. This injection site I am proposing would be modeled after the InSite program in Vancouver. Pinkerton (2011) reports that this program has saved taxpayers $1.9 million a year in HIV and overdose-related health costs. Therefore, a program like this in the community would be beneficial because it will ensure the marginalized members of the community are receiving care, but also decrease spending on future health care costs related to disease and overdose.

An increase in drug use, specifically opiates, has overwhelmed the United States. This behavior has led to a rise in the transmission of HIV/Hepatitis C which would be otherwise preventable. The needle exchange programs in Moorhead, Milwaukee, and Scott County are working to lower the transmission rate and increase participation in treatment programs.

Many people are concerned about how HIV spreads without having sex? The primary motivation is needle trade. Numerous general public layers raise these worries; in any case, this worry isn’t an explanation behind the legislature to support the needle trade program (NEP) (Wordpress).

Needle Exchange programs were put into effect to decrease chance of infection and blood transmitted diseases. These programs supply individuals with sterilized needles in exchange for a previously used needle. After watching the two videos about Needle Exchange Programs, I concluded that I am fully supportive of the programs. The controversy regarding whether or not Needle Exchange programs should be legal remains very prevalent. Many studies conclude that Needle Exchange programs have a more positive than negative effect on society. These programs reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and promote public health.

Several studies have shown that injection drug users lower their risk of transmitting infectious diseases when there is a needle exchange program available. There has not been a valid study of whether or not the amounts of time needles are returned to the exchange programs are harmful to communities. The Journal of Public Health, conducted surveys, evidence from needle exchange sites, jails, and institutions that needle exchange programs are effective in reducing illnesses such as HIV and AIDS (Burt & Theide, 2016). Furthermore, Reepalu, Blome, Bjork, Widell, & Bjorkman (2012), researched the same individuals for 20 years, with no breaks. Their studies concluded that injection drug use, not only heightens the risk for HIV and AID’s, there is also an increase in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. However, there studies showed that there is not an increase rate of cancer diagnoses due to injection drug use. In a study conducted by Bonar and Rosenberg (2014), they wanted to see if self-initiated harm strategies, such as: proper needle sterilization techniques, proper disposal of needles, and cleaning of the pre injected skin, could help improve the health of those that use drugs intravenously. Their study was conducted over an eight-month period, results showed that their

The use of contaminated needles can also transmit HIV. “The risk of HIV transmission needs to be addressed in two very different populations—healthcare workers and

Needle exchange programs are considered in the public’s eye as controversial topic. The major public fears involve that these needle exchange programs will propagate the drug problem even more. Another fear is the spread of diseases such as HIV that will spread more rapidly than before among users. These two issues unify where the use of intravenous drugs not only creates disease risk from injection with tainted needles, but also increases risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases through promiscuous sex, possibly related to drug use. However, with the local health departments allowed to offer needle exchange programs give access to drug users to prevent contaminating the major population. "A

There are many health problems that we face globally and each of them are important for us to be aware of and to take precautions and measures to prevent and treat such diseases that affect our global population. HIV/AIDS is a disease that is spread through direct contact with body fluids from a person who is infected with the virus, these fluids include blood, semen, rectal fluid, vaginal fluids and breast milk. There are an approximate 35 million people living with the disease globally as of 2015 and about 1 million of those people are children under the age of 15 (Aids.gov, 2016). There are approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. living with the disease and of those individuals many became infected with HIV by needle or syringe sharing,

Recognizing the urgent need for supporting this under-funded issue, and continuing their long-standing support for effective HIV prevention efforts, the Levi Strauss Foundation, Tides Foundation and the National AIDS Fund will award multi-year grants totalling $1 million in 2004 to support syringe exchange programs and state-level public education projects focusing on policies to expand access to sterile syringes through the Syringe Access Fund.

In the United Stated, stated by the Hepatitis C Support program, exchange programs have been documented legitimately and illicitly since the 1980s. The Hepatitis C Support Project states: the first needle exchange program was developed in 1984 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands by a drug users ' advocacy group called the Junkie Union. The major

In the history of the AIDS response there have been, and still exist, many obstacles to overcome but our path is clear—we work together to get results for all people. To the millions who have come together with compassion and determination, on this World AIDS Day we say, your blood, sweat and tears are changing the world. Results are accelerating There were more than 700 000 fewer new HIV infections globally in 2011 than in 2001. Africa has cut AIDS-related deaths by one third in the past six years.

In 2004, an estimated 42,000 people in the United Kingdom (UK) had accessed medical treatment and care. The figures identified in 2011 proves an increase in the number of diagnosis as the figure doubles at a staggering 81,000 cases. (Nat.org.uk, 2014) This is just in the UK alone which is alarming to the pandemic as the UK has access to a range of exemplary health care and a growing health system with the affordability to fund medical advances. The incidence and prevalence of HIV seems to be precarious in different parts of the globe.