Drug users are encouraged to trade their used needles for clean ones to be provided by Summit County Public Health.
It might sound crazy to give addicts needles to inject drugs such as heroin, but studies have shown similar programs across the world haven’t exacerbated the problem of addiction as one might expect. Instead, they’ve reduced the spread of blood-borne disease.
Ohio law prevents Summit County Public Health from calling its effort a needle exchange program — but that’s what users will probably know it as. Instead, the agency calls the effort a “blood-borne infectious disease prevention program.”
Yvette Edwards, who runs the program that starts next week, said it’s designed to prevent diseases such as hepatitis C and AIDS from spreading among the drug-using community and to promote health among those who continue to abuse heroin and other drugs. To achieve that end, participants will be provided with a plethora of other items including sterile water and bleach for safe drug use and condoms to prevent disease transmitted through sex.
“Because of the opiate epidemic, we know people are using drugs,” Edwards said. “And we know there are these diseases in our community, so we’re doing what we can to prevent their spread.”
On Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Public Health will accept used needles as long as they are securely and safely transported to Fairway Center Clinic, in Building B at 1867 W. Market St., Akron. Participation is free and anonymous.
Critics might say the county is helping addicts continue to abuse drugs, but Edwards disagrees.
“When you’re in the middle of the disease of addiction, you don’t care about the health risks,” she said. “The risks aren’t important to them, but we want to educate them on how to safely use until they’re ready to seek treatment.”
And when they decide they’re ready to seek treatment, the kits provided to addicts include contact information for a variety of resources.
Edwards described the program as comprehensive.
“I have to be as comprehensive as possible because I don’t know if I’m going to be seeing these people again,” she said.
That’s because addicts might not return after trading their needles once, or they might die of an overdose — like hundreds locally in recent years — before their next visit.
Edwards warned that the needles provided by the program still are subject to drug paraphernalia laws. It’s not a free pass, she said, but it might prompt police to take it easy on an addict.
“They can still get a paraphernalia charge,” she said, “but at least if they get pulled over by a police officer, that officer knows they’re trying to do something different.”
For now, participants are limited to receiving 30 needles per week.
She could not provide an individual cost for the kits because it’s so early in the program, but she said the most expensive item included is $1.50. The program is supported by donations and Public Health funding.
Edwards said the hope is to save lives and keep people healthy.
“We’re giving them information on treatment, but they’re not ready,” she said. “But we’re trying to plant the seed.”
It might sound crazy to give addicts needles to inject drugs such as heroin, but studies have shown similar programs across the world haven’t exacerbated the problem of addiction as one might expect. Instead, they’ve reduced the spread of blood-borne disease.
Ohio law prevents Summit County Public Health from calling its effort a needle exchange program — but that’s what users will probably know it as. Instead, the agency calls the effort a “blood-borne infectious disease prevention program.”
Yvette Edwards, who runs the program that starts next week, said it’s designed to prevent diseases such as hepatitis C and AIDS from spreading among the drug-using community and to promote health among those who continue to abuse heroin and other drugs. To achieve that end, participants will be provided with a plethora of other items including sterile water and bleach for safe drug use and condoms to prevent disease transmitted through sex.
“Because of the opiate epidemic, we know people are using drugs,” Edwards said. “And we know there are these diseases in our community, so we’re doing what we can to prevent their spread.”
On Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Public Health will accept used needles as long as they are securely and safely transported to Fairway Center Clinic, in Building B at 1867 W. Market St., Akron. Participation is free and anonymous.
Critics might say the county is helping addicts continue to abuse drugs, but Edwards disagrees.
“When you’re in the middle of the disease of addiction, you don’t care about the health risks,” she said. “The risks aren’t important to them, but we want to educate them on how to safely use until they’re ready to seek treatment.”
And when they decide they’re ready to seek treatment, the kits provided to addicts include contact information for a variety of resources.
Edwards described the program as comprehensive.
“I have to be as comprehensive as possible because I don’t know if I’m going to be seeing these people again,” she said.
That’s because addicts might not return after trading their needles once, or they might die of an overdose — like hundreds locally in recent years — before their next visit.
Edwards warned that the needles provided by the program still are subject to drug paraphernalia laws. It’s not a free pass, she said, but it might prompt police to take it easy on an addict.
“They can still get a paraphernalia charge,” she said, “but at least if they get pulled over by a police officer, that officer knows they’re trying to do something different.”
For now, participants are limited to receiving 30 needles per week.
She could not provide an individual cost for the kits because it’s so early in the program, but she said the most expensive item included is $1.50. The program is supported by donations and Public Health funding.
Edwards said the hope is to save lives and keep people healthy.
“We’re giving them information on treatment, but they’re not ready,” she said. “But we’re trying to plant the seed.”
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