I didn't realize how big HIV/AIDS was until I read an article in my Health class about it. I thought that it was something that had been taken care of and was no longer a threat to society because people were educated about how you get HIV/AIDS. One of the ways is through blood. A big problem that is still in America is drug addiction, and I understand a little more why HIV is still around because drug addiction is still rampant in the United States. This is mainly for those who are using needles to inject themselves with their drug of choice, but people who take drugs do a lot of risky things, including having unprotected sex or using sex to get their drug.
People need to be treated for their addictions and their diseases. Addiction is a disease. It might have started off with making the wrong choice, but soon there is no longer a choice. The brain and the body become dependent on the drug. So while educating people about making smart decisions is a good idea, it is also a good idea to think ahead for those who won't think ahead for themselves.
When someone is addicted to a chemical, they put themselves in risky situations. They have already taken on risky behaviors just by continuing their drug of choice, so what's another risk? I feel it is safer to provide addicts with clean needles in exchange for their used ones. It keeps the dirty ones off the street and creates less risk of making someone a victim of someone else's bad decisions. In conjunction with this needle exchange program, it makes it easier for you to know those who have the addiction and maybe just maybe a little easier for someone to reach out to them about their addiction and get some help.
It would cost less to medically help our nation then it would to put these people in jail because they have lost the ability to control themselves. Get them the help they need. I think the needle exchange program is helping cure 2 birds with the same stone.
References :
Annual Editions 37th Edition: Health page 7- 11 American Plague by Michael Hobbies
Drugs and Society, 13th edition, Jones & Bartlett Learning
Course BH201-56 Foundations of Addictions taught by Mary Louise Fanelli
People need to be treated for their addictions and their diseases. Addiction is a disease. It might have started off with making the wrong choice, but soon there is no longer a choice. The brain and the body become dependent on the drug. So while educating people about making smart decisions is a good idea, it is also a good idea to think ahead for those who won't think ahead for themselves.
When someone is addicted to a chemical, they put themselves in risky situations. They have already taken on risky behaviors just by continuing their drug of choice, so what's another risk? I feel it is safer to provide addicts with clean needles in exchange for their used ones. It keeps the dirty ones off the street and creates less risk of making someone a victim of someone else's bad decisions. In conjunction with this needle exchange program, it makes it easier for you to know those who have the addiction and maybe just maybe a little easier for someone to reach out to them about their addiction and get some help.
It would cost less to medically help our nation then it would to put these people in jail because they have lost the ability to control themselves. Get them the help they need. I think the needle exchange program is helping cure 2 birds with the same stone.
References :
Annual Editions 37th Edition: Health page 7- 11 American Plague by Michael Hobbies
Drugs and Society, 13th edition, Jones & Bartlett Learning
Course BH201-56 Foundations of Addictions taught by Mary Louise Fanelli
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