Hello Goodnight,
Hi everyone. I just found an interesting article about a new way to decrease HIV outbreaks. This new way was initiated in Vancouver, British Columbia and basically what it is that there is an 'insite' area where health care professionals watch drug addicts 'light up'. The area provides free clean needles, anti-retrovirals, and free HIV screenings. Not only that, if a drug addict was to over-dose in their presence they have the necessary equipment readily available to save their lives. Amazingly, according to the article noone has yet to die of a drug overdose since the program was implemented. And the rates of HIV have also decreased. And since in British Columbia there is free health care for all, and with the decreasing HIV rates, this program has lessened the cost of providing for health care for HIV positive people.
I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did.
Hey,
ReplyDeleteFirst, thanks for the article, I found it to be very interesting. Second, I would like to point out a couple of mistakes (if you don't mind).
1. In your post you said there is yet to be an overdose but in the article it states that they have over 1,000 overdoses but luckily no one died from them. Insite was able to save them with oxygen or Narcan.
"They also know that if they overdose, they won’t die. In Insite’s seven years of operation, there have been more than 1,000 overdoses inside, but not a single death. (Mild overdoses are treated with oxygen, serious ones with Narcan, an opiate blocker.)"
2. There was a correction at the very bottom stating that health care was not free for all but for those that were poor. (I just thought I would let you know)
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
"Correction: February 10, 2011
An article on Tuesday about a “safe injection site” for drug users in Vancouver, British Columbia, described the cost of medical care in Canada incorrectly. It is free for the poor, not free for everyone."
Other than that...here's the rest of my comment:
On one hand, I think that its amazing as to how the rates of HIV infections are decreasing because of this place where addicts are able to go and safely inject themselves with drugs but, on the other hand, I feel like this is encouraging addicts to continue with their drug use as if it was a good thing. That's why I am unsure as to what I should say. Though to be clear, It is good that these addicts are preventing themselves from getting infected with HIV but still is it that life changing that they have to use their addiction in order to ensure a better HIV-free health? What do you think? I am really conflicting over this matter...