Needle Exchange Programs

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Recommended: Argumentative essay on needle exchange

One of the major problems of our society nowadays is the rapid growth of drug addicts. This is because people misused and abused drugs, which can lead to addiction and dependent on drugs. In addition, the most abused drugs are psychotropic drugs such as cocaine and heroin, which can change the way people thinks, acts and feels. Today, there are many programs that are established to help drug users and prevent the spread of diseases. Needle exchange program (NEPs) is one of the programs, which has goal to reduce harm to drug users and innocent people. Moreover, implementing of needle exchange programs has become an argument because it cannot help drug users but instead it encourages them to use more drugs. In fact, needle exchange programs are ineffective at reducing the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other infectious diseases; therefore, needle exchange programs should be abolished.
Needle exchange programs are defined as a program, which intended to slow the spread of AIDS among IV drug users. It provides factual information and education for drug users and community so that the use of drugs has a minimal negative impact. (Watson 1991: 14) The first needle exchange programs began to emerge across Europe in the mid- 1980’s and have become famous health strategy around the world. In Canada, NEPs was officially opened in Ontario in 1987 and Vancouver in 1989, and a total of 28 NEPs were operational by February 1993. Today, there are more than 100 NEPs functioning around Canada, most of which earn federal and provincial funding. Needle exchange programs aim to provide injection and encourage the utilization of sterile needle syringes and other paraphernalia among injecting drug u...

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...of Aug. 6 in Norris Crescent Parkette. (Ellison)
To conclude, although the main goal of the Needle exchange programs is to reduce the transmissions of HIV and other diseases, they still fail to help the drug addicts they intended to serve and prevent any injuries in community. In fact, they encourage them to use more drugs, which could lead to overdose and death. Therefore, Needle exchange programs should be abolished.

Works Cited

Watson, M. (1991). Harm Reduction- Why Do it? International Journal or Drug policy, vol. 2, no. 5 pp 13- 15

Osborn, Bud., et al. Raise Shit. First Edition. Fernwood Publishing Co.,Ltd.; April 1, 2010

Ellison, Marc. “Toronto date reveals hundreds of discarded syringes” 15 Aug 2013. Web

Needle Exchange Programs. Sept 2003 Web

Franciscus, Alan. “Needle Exchange – A Matter of Public Health” HCV Advocate. April 2003

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