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Are you sure about that first part or if that just conjecture? The main reason to give drug addicts clean needles is to stop the spread of blood borne diseases

by yladiz 10y ago

Are you sure about that first part or if that just conjecture? The main reason to give drug addicts clean needles is to stop the spread of blood borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis, which reduces stress on the healthcare system. Alternative drugs are useful for weaning people off of a drug that would otherwise give them potentially life threatening withdrawal. I think the argument you're implicitly making is that homeless people won't change so why help them, which is fundamentally flawed because you're looking at those people like they're less than human. Sure, some (or in your argument, most) people won't seek help, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't offer it.

usaphp 10y ago
> the argument you're implicity making is that homeless people won't change so why help them...you are looking at those people like they are less than human. Where did I say that? Interpretations like this is exactly the reason why politicians just throw money at the problem without understanding it, they are just afraid of people making wrong assumptions just like you did. I never implied that they are less human, I just said that offering them better shelters and better services isn't helping them getting away from being homeless, in contrary it's doing the opposite.
- akiselev 10y ago
  * I just said that offering them better shelters and better services isn't helping them getting away from being homeless, in contrary it's doing the opposite.* You're demonstrably wrong based on the vast majority of our research on homelessness in the developed world. Annonymous needle exchanges not only help reduce blood borne disease transmission rates (we're talking about a reduction of up to 70-90% of HIV infections in some cases like London). They are also most often in rehab buildings, clinics, and hospitals where they have professionals most able to help intervene or assist those who want to quit in an environment of understanding and respect. The idea that free needles increase drug use may sound logical but it's the exact opposite of reality. No one beats addiction just because they're scared of a friend's used needle. Homeless shelters are even more critical because they allow people to get back on their feet, especially for those with families to support or those without a regional support network of friends. If you're homeless and have a job interview, for example, homeless shelters will often help you with grooming, professional clothing, and even transport. Without shelters or friends/family, bootstrapping from homelessness to financial security is almost impossible. Unless you've ever been homeless you can't begin to fathom the positive effect all of these services have on someone who has hit rock bottom.
vkou 10y ago
Safe injection sites are also a way of saying that there is someone who gives a damn about your problem, instead of seeing you as a stupid junkie. It's one of the few interactions with the government people suffering from addiction have which is devoid of judgement - that they are worth helping. For some people, this means a lot. Some of the worst parts of addiction is how completely it destroys any sense of self-worth.
- vertex-four 10y ago
  Additionally, note that pretty much all help for homeless people is heavily tied to a requirement to keep off drugs in many places, with zero tolerance policies in place. I don't know if that's the case in San Francisco, but it's a large part of the reason many homeless people are unable to access support to get them into housing.

by yladiz 10y ago

usaphp 10y ago

> the argument you're implicity making is that homeless people won't change so why help them...you are looking at those people like they are less than human. Where did I say that? Interpretations like this is exactly the reason why politicians just throw money at the problem without understanding it, they are just afraid of people making wrong assumptions just like you did. I never implied that they are less human, I just said that offering them better shelters and better services isn't helping them getting away from being homeless, in contrary it's doing the opposite.

akiselev 10y ago
* I just said that offering them better shelters and better services isn't helping them getting away from being homeless, in contrary it's doing the opposite.* You're demonstrably wrong based on the vast majority of our research on homelessness in the developed world. Annonymous needle exchanges not only help reduce blood borne disease transmission rates (we're talking about a reduction of up to 70-90% of HIV infections in some cases like London). They are also most often in rehab buildings, clinics, and hospitals where they have professionals most able to help intervene or assist those who want to quit in an environment of understanding and respect. The idea that free needles increase drug use may sound logical but it's the exact opposite of reality. No one beats addiction just because they're scared of a friend's used needle. Homeless shelters are even more critical because they allow people to get back on their feet, especially for those with families to support or those without a regional support network of friends. If you're homeless and have a job interview, for example, homeless shelters will often help you with grooming, professional clothing, and even transport. Without shelters or friends/family, bootstrapping from homelessness to financial security is almost impossible. Unless you've ever been homeless you can't begin to fathom the positive effect all of these services have on someone who has hit rock bottom.

vkou 10y ago

Safe injection sites are also a way of saying that there is someone who gives a damn about your problem, instead of seeing you as a stupid junkie. It's one of the few interactions with the government people suffering from addiction have which is devoid of judgement - that they are worth helping. For some people, this means a lot. Some of the worst parts of addiction is how completely it destroys any sense of self-worth.

vertex-four 10y ago
Additionally, note that pretty much all help for homeless people is heavily tied to a requirement to keep off drugs in many places, with zero tolerance policies in place. I don't know if that's the case in San Francisco, but it's a large part of the reason many homeless people are unable to access support to get them into housing.