Pittsburgh launches needle exchange program (Penn: disposal, live, costs)

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

free crack pipes will be next

Pittsburgh to launch needle exchange program to prevent overdoses

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/he...s/202206010107

"Syringe services programs, commonly referred to as needle exchanges, actually do much more: They provide access to clean syringes used to inject drugs, safe disposal of used needles, as well as referrals to drug treatment, disease testing and mental health services. They’ve been proven to prevent the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C, blood-borne diseases that are often spread through the sharing of needles used to inject drugs."

[erieguy]

Free pipes won’t be a surprise. These folks are such a drain on society.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

free crack pipes will be next

Pittsburgh to launch needle exchange program to prevent overdoses

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/he...s/202206010107

"Syringe services programs, commonly referred to as needle exchanges, actually do much more: They provide access to clean syringes used to inject drugs, safe disposal of used needles, as well as referrals to drug treatment, disease testing and mental health services. They’ve been proven to prevent the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C, blood-borne diseases that are often spread through the sharing of needles used to inject drugs."

You are showing your age. Crack is no longer a thing. People no longer smoke crack. Addicts have moved on to bigger and better things.

My employer started out in the 90s. Initially we started as a non profit combating the negative impact of the crack epidemic in urban Pittsburgh. Today we are a black agency servicing the entire metro which has an insatiable appetite for opioids and fentanyl. The difference is crack addicts lived to see another day. In addition addicts today are labeled as sick and not made fun of.

[tyovan4]

I have experience with these services, from a policy perspective.
I am fine with these services - I have stepped over discarded, uncapped needles.. Id rather have a syringe exchange service instead of having them carelessly discarded. They also do provide linkages to care when people are ready to quit.
The harm reduction strategy also helps with lowering social costs.. Id rather have users administering Narcan on each other instead of needing to dispatch EMS and then also tying up a bed in the ER.

I do think there is a fine line between 'harm reduction' and 'enabling'. I dont support things like supervised injection sites or pipe giveaways.

Crack may not be as big of a thing as it was before - but it is still a thing. Ive seen crack being smoked on Fifth Avenue, and a colleague found a crack pipe in Arsenal Park. It is still out there, even if its not as big as it once was.

[Reggiezz]

The truth is most of these addicts will die from it eventually. Fentanyl is speeding up the process. Giving people needles will just hasten it more.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Reggiezz

The truth is most of these addicts will die from it eventually. Fentanyl is speeding up the process. Giving people needles will just hasten it more.

Anything we do with addicts short of summary execution (which is immoral and a gross violation of human rights) is going to cost lots of $$$ with minimal effect on the final outcome. This includes both punitive measures (throwing people in prison costs a lot of money!) and rehabilitative measures.

In the end though, a needle exchange probably makes sense from a cost-benefit analysis, because we're on the hook for providing for care for addicts regardless, and the cost of dealing with the healthcare costs associated with dirty needles is way higher than the cost of providing clean ones.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Reggiezz

The truth is most of these addicts will die from it eventually. Fentanyl is speeding up the process. Giving people needles will just hasten it more.

Bingo

[gg]

Best thing that could happen to an addict is three years in jail. They need about that much time to have a chance for a real change. Dems prefer to kick cans down the road. Pittsburgh is a tent city drug addict mess.

Enjoy the day.