Needle exchange? Yeah right...

[buttless]

Here in Portland as in many other cities around the country we have what are known as “needle exchanges“. By my understanding of the word exchange an old needle must be given in order to get a new one. It turns out this has nothing to do with exchanging so much as it does furnishing I.V. drug users nearly everything they need to use their drug of choice. Within these kits is a needle, alcohol wipe, turnaquet, sterile water and cooker. As best I can see the only thing missing is the drug itself.

If you ask those who operate these programs they will tell you it is for risk reduction. Give me a break! Why not actually provide the drug also so people will know exactly what they are getting to further avoid the risk of an over-dose? While they are at it they could also provide a place for these people to shoot up also? Here is the answer plain and simple, they would rather the public at large deal with those issues.

They might be able sell this idea if it truely was a matter of exchanging. Since these needles are generally dropped at the point of use I see it as nothing more than increasing the risk to those who are not even involved in the drug use. I have seen these needles discarded all over the downtown area with no regard to the safety of others who may use the same areas for legal activities. Am I wrong for finding this to be a problem?

I honestly have no use for those who decide to use these drugs and make it a problem for others who have nothing to do with it. It’s unfortunate but the only solution I see is kinda, well, illegal…