Britian: Needle exchanges 'failing public' (to put it diplomatically)

BBC News On Line ^ | Wednesday, 8 October, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Wednesday, 8 October, 2003, 23:14 GMT 00:14 UK

Needle exchanges 'failing public'

Syringes are handed out to cut the risk of infection

Needle exchanges for drug addicts are not doing enough to protect the public from discarded syringes, senior police officers have warned.

They said some exchanges are making "no attempt or effort" to prevent dirty needles being dumped in public places.

Figures show that at least one in 10 dirty needles carry the hepatitis virus.

The Police Superintendents Association said the numbers of discarded needles has become a "menace" in some areas.

Sharing needles

Every year more than 28 million hypodermic needles are given to drug addicts in the UK.

The aim is to prevent injecting drug users from sharing needles and exposing themselves to Hepatitis and the HIV virus.

Tests on discarded needles found that 10% carried hepatitis strains B and C.

Some needle exchanges where addicts can obtain fresh equipment manage a return rate for old needles of around 70%.

However the senior officers, in day to day operational charge of policing, are highly critical of certain exchanges.

The superintendents said the number of needles discarded in public areas is unacceptable.

They want the exchanges to do more to ensure potentially contaminated needles are returned for safe disposal.

Community protests

The police attack on exchanges follows a decision to reduce the number of clean needles available to drug addicts in Conwy.

Last year 767,000 needles were given to drug users in the north Wales town, drawing community protests over fears more addicts would be attracted to the area.

The local health authority said pharmacists' decision to boycott the scheme could lead to widespread infection if one person with HIV came to an area with no exchange.

And in July residents of a former pit town called for action to drive out drug users after 3,000 used syringes were found in a disused building.

The needles were found in an outbuilding of a derelict house in Victoria Street on the Royal Estate in Warsop, Nottinghamshire.

[Paleo Conservative]

They said some exchanges are making "no attempt or effort" to prevent dirty needles being dumped in public places.

You'd think the Greens would be against the needle exchange program. At least the addicts were recycling the needles before.

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[LearnsFromMistakes]

So people who abuse their bodies also abuse the environment. Whodathunkit?

[wimpycat]

This whole scheme is predicated on the false notion that the only reason junkies use dirty needles is they can't obtain clean ones and that junkies actually care enough about themselves and others to make sure no one else uses their needles.

Junkies don't care...they just don't care.

[Batrachian]

If the program is failing, it's because they're not giving away enough needles. They should give the heroin away, too, to make sure that addicts don't harm themselves with low-quality drugs. Of course, they'll also need clean, comfortable dwellings to indulge their habits, not to mention a nutritious diet. Addicts are often malnourished. Can't have that. They must be given condoms as well, and probably a small stipend to cover sundries. Who'll pay for all this? Don't ask stupid questions.

[IronJack]

some exchanges are making "no attempt or effort" to prevent dirty needles being dumped in public places.

Whoa! You mean an upright, conscientious dope addict is failing to recognize his social responsiblities??? You mean a well-meaning liberal idea is miscarrying because it was based on an idealism that exists nowhere in the real world?? You mean that inept attempts at social engineering are endangering the righteous members of society while exalting the lowest elements and facilitating their downward spiral???

What IS the world coming to ...

[Destro]

I have always felt that habitual hard drug users who are found to carry a highly infectious disease should be placed in sanitariums for their protection and that of the public. I know it sounds harsh but addicts like this can be said to have lost the ability to exercise their freedom of will because of their addiction. We currently have a system that is all law enforcement punisment but no common sense and no compassion.

Build sanitariums for these peopel-really just hospital dorm rooms with guards. Allow them to work but monitor them.

I feel this way only about drugs addicts whose use of the drug also helps spread disease.

A Typhoid Mary like solution to Typhoid Mary like drug users.