Harm Reduction: Needle Exchange

HARM REDUCTION : NEEDLE EXCHANGEIntroductionNeedle mass run across programs are congruent with a detriment reduction approach to intravenous do drugs occasion management . Intravenous drug use is prudent for the spread of infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV , hepatitis B and hepatitis C . A somewhat divisive cordial policy acerate leaf exchange programs are intended to trim the spread of infectious diseases by supplying the drug injecting world with sterile chivys and injecting equipment . This takes a f fiddleual approach to the issue and considers the shew that supports and opposes the harm reduction approach . It should be noted that this considers alone needle exchange programs and not the highly controversial of honest injecting rooms . The concludes by offering a personal go through of the issue , based on the evidence presentedPros of needle exchange programsReducing the spread of infectious diseaseInfectious diseases including HIV and hepatitis are prevalent in intravenous drug drug users because of high risk injecting practices including sharing needles and administering injections in an unsterile environment . The Center for Disease Control (CDC , the National nominate of Health (NIH ) and the World Health Organization (WHO endorse needle exchange programs because they have been shown to reduce high risk injecting behaviors by up to 74 (World Health Organization 2004 . The reduction in high risk injection behaviors as a go out of needle exchange programs is the principal reason that in Australia amongst 1991 and 2000 , approximately 25 ,000 advanced cases of HIV and 21 ,000 refreshful cases of hepatitis C were prevented (Dolan , MacDonald , Silins Topp , 2005 . Such significant public health benefits are the principal reason needle exchange programs are support by governments in countries including Australia , Brazil , Canada , the Netherlands and the United KingdomProviding access to health and well-disposed servicesA second advantage of needle exchange programs is that they act as gateways to traditional medical treatments for drug dependence for galore(postnominal) clients .

Prior to participating in needle exchange programs , a high proportion of drug-injecting clients have never been in concern with health or social services . Studies have shown that new injectors are more likely to enter rehabilitation programs compared to injectors whose drug use has been long-term (Hacker et al , 2005 . Providing exposure to health and social services early in an intravenous drug user s substance abuse history is another linchpin in the argument for needle exchange programsArguments against harm minimisationEncouraging drug useDetractors of the harm reduction approach argue that needle exchange programs and facilities actively promote drug use by providing drug injecting equipment . It is besides argued that needle exchange facilities create a safe meeting spot for intravenous drug users and contribute to strengthening the social meshworks of users , thereby increasing the prevalence of intravenous drug use (Small , Palepu Tyndall , 2006 . The weight of scientific evidence suggests that these arguments are fallacious and that needle exchange programs do not encourage social network formation and do not increase recruitment of injecting drug users (Dolan , MacDonald , Silins Topp , 2005Represent a weakening of anti-drug policy...If you want to get a plentiful essay, order it on our website: Orderessay

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