People who use needles to inject drugs should not share those needles but it is more common than you think. Often addicts no longer are gainfully employed and therefore have no income to purchase what they need.
Lately, safe injection sites have been in the news. For some, they consider this enabling the addict and yes in a way it is. However, it provides a place the addicts can get safe needles for injection which stops the spread of disease and viruses.
Top health concerns from sharing needles
The top health concerns from sharing needles are very serious. Sharing needles are not the only risky behavior that can spread these diseases; risky sex for drugs can also spread them. They include bloodborne diseases and infections such as:
- Aids/HIV
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis B
- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus a highly resistant infection
- Group A streptococcus
- Sepsis (blood infection) that can affect the hearts, bones, and joints
- Botulism from contaminated drugs
- Tetanus if the equipment has become rusty
You may notice that addicts who use needles will have injection sites that are red and angry looking.
Other health concerns
Hepatitis can also lead to collapsed veins, liver damage such as cirrhosis and cancer. In fact, hepatitis b and c are major risk factors for liver cancer in the US. Now, hepatitis c can be cured however, drug addicts will still engage in the risky behavior that could re-infect them. Drug use can worsen the progression of HIV and its symptoms, especially in the brain. This can increase greater nerve cell injury and problems with thinking, learning, and memory.
However, it is not just the needles that can spread these diseases. The other paraphernalia that can spread these diseases include cookers, filters, sterile water, ascorbic acid, and tourniquets.
The debate over safe injection sites
As stated earlier some believe this enables the addiction, others believe it will bring crime to the area, others believe it will prevent both spreading disease and crime. As of this time, there are no safe injection sites inside the US; recovery is still the only option. There has not been enough data on the crime rates to determine if these sites actually reduce crime or not.
If you are ready to get clean and stay clean a good recovery program like that at 449 Recovery can help you. They will provide safe constantly monitored detox, counseling that includes family members, one on one and group therapy. The tools you need to reduce the risk of relapse will be available to you.
Call us (855) 435-7449 today to find out more about our recovery treatments and therapies. At 449 Recovery it is our goal to provide a clean safe environment that is conducive to recovery and helps each client navigate the road to recovery with the best chances to remain sober, clean, and live a healthy happy life. Our counseling treats not only the addiction but the underlying issues as well. This helps to ensure a better chance of staying healthy and clean.