In the United States, the distribution of free, clean needles to drug addicts is a fiercely debated issue. Supporters of needle exchange programs believe that giving clean needles to drug addicts lowers the risk of contracting diseases such as HIV, AIDS and hepatitis C. Opponents of the exchange debate that it only fuels the addict’s addiction and creates devastation among inner city communities that house clean needle organizations.

The U.S. government will not fund organizations that distribute clean needles. Although needle exchange is legal in the United States, local organizations that distribute needles are forced to provide their own funding. If a clean needle organization is allowed into a community, there are restrictions that limit the circulation of the clean needles. Organizations such as Clean Needles Now (CNN) keep a record of their customers (who are all over the age of 18) and only distribute ten needles to a user at a time. When users come to the exchange, they trade in their used needles for clean ones. Organizations and programs like CNN offer rehab and detox services, education about addiction and free HIV testing to their customers. By offering services to the family and friends of addicts, needle exchange programs are protecting not only the addict, but their loved ones as well.

Having resources and safe injection methods to prevent fatal diseases has not always come so conveniently to addicts. Before the 1980’s, it was illegal in the U.S. to distribute clean needles. In 1988 the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services stated that federal funding to clean needle organizations would remain at a standstill until they could prove that distributing clean needles could indeed reduce the spread of HIV. In the following years, many researchers and medical organizations have proved that dispensing clean needles did not increase injection use. Despite the research that clean needle distribution did not increase injection use, the federal government continued to enforce the ban on funding needle exchange programs.

Currently, needle exchange programs are proving beneficial in lowering HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases in the United States according to CNN. On April 8, 2010, in Trenton New Jersey, a report conducted by the state health department revealed that the disease count had not only lowered in the city, but that more addicts were seeking treatment. The report showed that nearly 1,000 of the 4,482 needle exchange program customers chose to enroll in drug treatment, and 65 other users found permanent housing.

This continuum of disease prevention and rehabilitation is only possible if needle exchange organizations can receive adequate funding. Needle exchange programs in the city of Trenton have discovered, in their endeavor to reduce disease, that more funding is crucial to continue. The main obstacle proactive cities such as Trenton are facing lie solely in the willingness of the state and national governments to provide resources and funding, but this can only be swayed once morality and fear are conquered.

By: Ariane Kunze