Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Needle exchange
A needle exchange programme is a controversial public service endorsed by some governments which give clean needles to intravenous drug addicts, in exchange for education of the drug user. They may require the exchange of a dirty (used) needle for the clean needle. This reduces the risk of the user receiving an infectious disease. Some countries where these programmes exist are: Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States. Critics state these programmes may only endorse drug abuse and not encourage those to become clean, but the scientific evidence is that needle exchanges do reduce levels of infectious diseases without encouraging increases in drug abuse.
Last updated: 10-08-2005 14:32:55
03-10-2013 05:06:04
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details