The Exchange

Monday nights and Tuesday mornings I work at the needle exchange run by the HIV prevention project in San Francisco, with medical staff provided by Tom Waddell Health Center. Since needle exchange was legalized in San Francisco, rates of HIV infection amongst intravenous drug users has dropped dramatically. 

While the needle exchange has proven to be an effective public health intervention, just as importantly, it has decriminalized the disease which is addiction. People may not agree with the use of illegal drugs, but every time I come to the exchange I witness the stranglehold of addiction.

One girl played for the under 18 U.S. women's national soccer team, after injuring her knee, which ended her career, her father shot her with speed and heroin for the first time (to help her with the pain)--she has been addicted ever since.  

Many of the stories you hear at needle exchange are this tragic, yet these are in many ways forgotten people--lacking medical, mental health and effective drug/addiction treatment services.  Many are to afraid to access these service because their behavior is criminalized; many can't find services that are right for them; many can't afford services.