There is a non-profit organization in Western Mass that few know muc about called Tapestry Health run out of Holyoke Massachusetts. They provide services from sexual health to family nutrition to community educations and trainings. One of their most controversial services provided is the "Needle Exchange". This involves an open drop-box for used needles and a free and public source for sterile ones. These needles are most often used for the administration of drugs, and not for medical purposes. Western Massachusetts has a drug epademic, and the use of and addiction to opioids has become a much more common disease. Many people find the idea of a needle exchange to be more hurtful than helpful to the community. It is thought that it supports drug abuse and rewards drug users. This opinion is very short sighted and a privilaged way of looking at those with addictions. What a needle exchange trul achieves is a safe, free, public way to reduce contamination and infection of bloodborne diseases in a population. Without options to anonymously opbtain free clean needles, drug users will not think twice about sharing or borrowing which opens up the door for dozens of deadly diseases to populate more people. The idea that providing needles somehow rewards drug addiction behaviors is also a very limited view. Without the option of clean needles, those with an addiction will not stop using, they will simply continue to use with extremely less safe methods and practices. The people addicted to drugs are in no way at fault for their battle with the disease and are due no consequences for what major medical corperations and pharmacies are doing to them. This is not about people wanting to do something, it is a beyond-biological need created by the dependence of their body systems. Needle exchanges are one of the most valuable provided cares that addicts have before they get serious help. Without them and without the ability for it to be free, people would be at great risks of deadly infections.
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