EDITORIAL – Free needles make for safer drug use

A popular program operating out of Allegheny Heath Department’s Oakland office is offering… A popular program operating out of Allegheny Heath Department’s Oakland office is offering drug users free, clean needles.

What good can come of this? Actually, a lot.

The privately funded program, Prevention Point Pittsburgh, provides users with the alcohol swabs, syringes and needles needed to inject illegal drugs.

What does the program get in return? Participants provide the program with important statistics about drug use, statistics vital to helping users receive clean supplies and help. Users enrolled in the program are given a card with a “unique identifier” so that they can remain anonymous. New exchangers are taught about safe injection and disposal practices and hepatitis C and HIV.

Notice we said “new exchangers” not “new users.” The program does not encourage people to start using drugs. Rather, it provides resources to addicts. People don’t start having sex because they are given free condoms, and they certainly aren’t going to start shooting up heroin because they can get free, clean needles. It’s not like the program is handing out drugs. Instead, Prevention Point is recognizing a growing problem —unsafe drug use and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C — and battling it with education and prevention.

While Prevention Point has been operating in Pittsburgh for four years, members of the Allegheny County Council have brought new attention to the program as they begin to assess its usefulness.

The council’s argument is that Prevention Point’s program goes against state law that says possession of drug paraphernalia without a prescription is illegal.

Without an exchange program, users would have to take their chances, buying needles on the street with no assurance that they are clean. Right now, Prevention Point participants receive documentation that indicates their paraphernalia was obtained through a legal program in the event that they are questioned by law enforcement authorities.

The program also offers users recommendations for rehabilitation. Since the program’s inception, Prevention Point has helped 550 addicts receive rehabilitation. The demand for rehabilitation far exceeds the availability of help for addicts in the area. Considering the program has about 3,000 participants, that’s a pretty good ratio.

Saying that the program encourages drug use is absurd. The only thing this program is meant to encourage is safe use. We’re not implying that heroin is good —it’s far from it. However, if people are going to use drugs, and are unable to access clean supplies, they will use whatever they can find.

People who participate in exchange programs are more likely to inject safely and dispose of their needles safely, too. Infection rates of HIV and hepatitis C in areas with exchange programs have dropped dramatically, according to an article in yesterday’s Post-Gazette.

While it’s commendable that our county council is looking out for our well-being, we hope that they realize the ramifications of ending Prevention Point.

Drug addiction is a complex issue with no easy solution. The best we can do is provide those with a problem the resources to proceed safely, and to help stop the spread of diseases and viruses. Prevention Point is doing its part by getting people educated and encouraging safe practices.