Posted on 08/05/2009 10:38:21 AM PDT by Kaslin
WASHINGTON -- The RV arrived at a corner near Marvin Gaye Park, also known to locals as "Needle Park." A steady procession of addicts came to the door, mounted a few steps and sat down. One by one, they dropped used needles into a container and received new needles in return, along with alcohol wipes and the small, bottle cap-like "cookers" in which heroin is heated.
Reggie, Teefari and Hazel -- staff members at PreventionWorks!, Washington's largest needle exchange program -- are at the park twice a week, offering clean needles to prevent disease transmission, condoms, drug treatment referrals, AIDS testing and a few kind words. "You still play the guitar?" "You'll have a swollen hand if you keep going there." "Love you baby."
It is the eyes and arms of addicts that draw your attention. Eyes that are glassy, or unnaturally bright, or tired beyond exhaustion. Arms that are ulcerated sticks or purpled parchment; with repeated use, needles become blunt and tear the skin. Some addicts adopt a defensive politeness -- "yes, sir" -- and quickly leave. Others want to talk -- "I love plants and I love kids" -- trying to provide hints of their humanity. They are America's least wanted.
They are also at the center of a controversy. Needle exchange programs have always been politically controversial, with opponents arguing they send a mixed moral message about drug use. The House of Representatives recently passed an amendment banning exchanges in the District of Columbia within 1,000 thousand feet of sites where children gather -- which, if approved by the Senate, would effectively put programs like PreventionWorks! out of business. Staffers joke that they could only work in graveyards and the middle of the Potomac.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
What a waste of resources. And imagine the “carbon footprint” driving that RV around.
Actually the least wanted are the elderly.
Addicts have plenty of programs. The needle exchanges should NEVER happen near parks or schools. IF you must have these types of programs then run them out of the methodone clinics ( yeah they are still around). Fact is all needle exchanges do us keep druggies going longer ( maybe that’s the new health care O is speaking of).
Of course the young woman in LA ( 17 yrs old I believe) who was murdered by an addict on her way to help out at an exchange program never colors anyones thinking
Maudlin, irrational Liberalspeak. Obviously these addicts aren't "unwanted." The liberal champions of the needle-exhange program need them.
But are these addicts "worthless"?
Let's see: If one produces nothing for himself, his family, his friends, or his community, could he not be said to be "worthless"? Why should we run from this accurate word?
Sounds like a good place to practice some clay shooting.
We HAVE to keep these people who are trying to kill themselves alive!
Actually the least wanted are the unborn.
Heard an interesting statistic yesterday. The circumstances that put you in rehab have no bearing on if someone will successfully complete the program and no longer be a user. Forced or voluntary the success rate is the same. So if we are going to spend this money, why not spend it on getting them to rehab to maybe get them off the stuff instead of allowing them to do it more safely?
At the same time, train them in a useable skill, like knitting sweaters or farming (no, not hoeing, farming!) so that they have at least one redeeming quality.
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