[zoesmom]

i agree. while this might make some politicians feel warm and fuzzy that they are providing a valuable service for addicts, the effect of this program is that it takes away several incentives to get clean.

also, i don't think i understand the public policy behind providing providing a safe shooting gallery. what is the government's interest here? it propagates a problem rather than providing any long term solutions. using addicts are still using addicts no matter how safe the delivery method. a safe delivery method does not encourage them to be responsible, productive citizens, it actually enables them in their addiction.

[Huck]

what is the government's interest here

Public health--preventing the spread of disease. Not saying it's a smart policy, but that is the rationale.

[MrLeRoy]

the effect of this program is that it takes away several incentives to get clean.

If the ravages of the drug itself aren't incentive enough, I don't see side issues like hygeine doing the trick.

[weegee]

Dee Dee Ramone's autobiography Lobotomy detailed his almost 35 year addiction to heroin. There were times that he moved to less "hip" cities just so he would be that much more removed from places he could score drugs (and "friends"/"fiends" who would come by his place at all hours with free smack to share or begging to help them go score a fix).

In the end, he died of an overdose (possibly a suicide but not openly discussed as such).