I Clackamas Print
Commentary 3
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006
ace off: new needles for old
\eedle exchange - the perfect
Muti on to a prickly situation
en Maras
Additionally, exchange programs
have shown to not only decrease dan
Ktor-In-Chief
gerous practices by the user, but also
encourage recovery. One study by the
Every day in this country 38 people National Institute of Health concluded
[of the advanced symptoms of AIDS, that “individuals in areas with needle
lording to the Center for Disease exchange programs have an increased
Lol, 35 percent of AIDS cases were likelihood of entering drug treatment
|rted to have been caused by intra- programs.”
A very real danger in any city is
Lus drug use. Do the math and it
lonies apparent that each day one the threat of improperly discarded dirty
[on dies from shooting with a dirty needles, which can often be discarded
[die. These are
in the worst places, such
as parks and playgrounds.
[ths which could be
While this is often treated
Doted.
as a joke, they can pose
rhe tactic used
“...needle
|ld be needle
a real danger for infec
exchange
pro
Range programs, in
tion of even more people.
When exchange programs
[ch users are asked
grams do not
[xchange their old
are implemented, the num
encourage use,
ber of discarded needles
Inges for new ones,
but merely
[old ones being dis-
decreases because they
[d of safely. The
can be disposed of by pro
work as a form
fessionals.
Ling methamphet-
of damage
One often used argu
Le problem is con-
ment is that HIV/AIDS is
reduction. ”
Lting to the need
[such a program in
a method of natural (or
[land, which has
supernatural) selection to
rid the earth of the “dirty
■ been known as
junkies,” and that some-
lot-bed of heroin
[e Many critics say exchange pro how the users deserve their disease
ps merely reinforce bad habits and because they brought it on themselves.
■users an excuse to continue their The problem with this statement is that
■active cycle. But herein lies the the social aspects are not considered.
Many of these people have families,
■problem.
I has been shown through numer- often completely innocent of any crime.
Iindependent studies that needle They can also have sexual partners,
Inge programs do not encourage sometimes unknowing of the status. It is
■but merely work as a form of dam- easy to dehumanize people who are dif
leduction. The psychological effects ferent, but we must remember that every
[diction take control over the actions addict is a living, breathing person with
dreams, hopes, friends and a family no
|e user.
there is reason to believe that para different than you or I.
Right now the people of America
lalia laws which include syringes
lot deter use. They only make users are under the coercion of an archaic
[ likely to engage in risky injection strangle-hold of a drug policy. Unless
■ices, because there is no altema- we do something to fix it soon we can
only expect to see the repeated patterns
which manifested during prohibition.
Within the neZt 15 minutes one new
person will be jrifected with HIV because
of a dirty needle. Their chance of surviv
ing current^ stands at zero.
Primary problems persist in
spite of progressive program
Derek Erickson
exchange. So what did they do? They
bought a pack of new needles to begin
\ The Clackamas Print
with, and then shared them for some
time before they went to the exchange.
Heroin is an increasing trend in the These users still shared their needles
Portland area. Studies are showing due to lethargy, and then grabbed some
that the age of users is lowering and new ones for free. They shared the
the problem isn’t showing any signs needles because the needle exchange
of going away. So what do we do to was too far away, it was inconvenient
combat this issue? Why don’t we hand to shield themselves from infectious
out some free needles so heroin users diseases. So we’re paying for a pro
gram that is only used
can “safely” shoot up
some of the time.
their smack, without
If users are still shar
worrying about infec
ing needles, only using
“ HI V is
tious disease?
the needle exchange
Heaven forbid these
still spread
when it’s convenient
people see consequenc
amongst users.
for them, then what’s
es for their actions out
being prevented here?
side of the law. The
They’re still
HIV is still being
same studies that show
overdosing.
spread amongst users.
the user age lower
They’re still overdos
ing also state that the
They still steal,
ing. They still steal,
method of using her
rob, and do
rob and do whatever it
oin has changed. The
takes to get the drug.
whatever it •
kids are smoking their *
The only difference is
junk, not shooting it.
takes to get the
that when they’re near
“Chasing the dragon”
drug.’’
the exchange they can
is a more acceptable
pick up some nice new
way of administration
sharp syringes and
amongst those who see
trade in the ones that
shooting heroin as dan
they have used until they don’t func
gerous and dirty.
We have spent plenty of tax dollars tion anymore.
I’m no Darwinist, blit even if the
talking about the dangers of heroin
use, focusing mostly on the worry of needle exchange worked as intended,
infectious diseases, specifically HIV who are we saving? We’re saving
and Hepatitis. Thanks to the Portland heroin addicts who have most likely
needle exchange program, that fear ignored legal implications, count
has been removed from the heroin less rehabilitation program and cries
from friends and family. These former
community.
Is it important to keep users from human beings have given up who
switching to needles? I mean, heroin is they are for a cheap high that used
heroin right? Not quite. Shooting her to seem scary to those who didn’t
oin is a far more potent and addicting indulge with them. The fear is gone,
method of administration. Overdosing the high remains, the diseases aren’t
while smoking heroin is nearly impos going away and we’re all paying for it
sible, withdrawals are less likely to in one way or another.
be lethal and addiction takes longer to
grab a hold of the userx
Having talked to a nuhaber of heroin
addicts, most of them staled that they
began by smoking it. Evedtpally that
wasn’t enough and they knewthat they
could receive free needles dowrkat the
■
Photo illustration by Jeff Sorensen Clackamas Print
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iregon City, OR 97045
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le C lackamas Print is
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P, ditor - in -C hief : Ben Maras
C opy E ditors : Katie Weinberg, E. E.
A d A ssistant : Megan Cline
S taff W riters : Courtney CXByme, P roduction A ssistants : Megan
West
Alexander Case, Derek Erickson,
Justin Goe, Elizabeth Hitz, Frank
Jordan, Mike Kimberling, Megan
Koler, Adam J. Manley Matthew
Olson, Joe Piazzisi, Kim Schiewe,
Tayo Stalnaker, Kyle Steele, David
Stark
N ews E ditor : Katie Wilson
C ommentary E ditor : Laura Cameron
F eature E ditor : C.J. Ciaramella
S ports E ditor : Mike Giùdice
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P hoto E ditor : Jeff Sorensen
A d A ìanager : Sam Krause
Koler, Tayo Stalnaker, Adam J.
Manley, Brandon Huddleston,
Kraig Hansen
P hotographers : Jake Dannen
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D epartment A ssistant . Pat Lichen
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