Needle Exchange Program

Before our class presentation on the Needle Exchange Program, I didn’t know much about the inner functions of the program, and how much it helps the community. I saw the needle exchange program as beneficial before this presentation because it helps protect members of the community and promotes safety and safe recreational drug administration. While I do believe our first priority as nurses is to encourage the cessation of recreational drug use, this is not always possible. Some patients are not ready to quit recreational drug use when we see them for treatment, and at this stage our priority becomes keeping them safe. 

            The presentation and class discussion on the Needle Exchange Program helped me understand the full benefits it can provide.  I did have a slight bias about the needle exchange program before our in-class discussion and was concerned that it may encourage recreational drug use. I now understand that the program’s main goal is to promote safety within the community. When dirty needles can be exchanged for clean ones, this will help the spread of infectious diseases such as hepatitis. It also could decrease the potential for littering, which in turn makes the community safer for young children who may find dirty needles. Preventing littering also helps keep the Portland community cleaner. Clean needles can now be acquired without dirty needles, which is also a benefit for safety and community health purposes. 

            This program can help aid in health disparities because recreational drug users may not have access to clean supplies, naloxone for overdoses, fentanyl test strips, and even clean water for basic hygiene purposes. Programs such as the Needle Exchange help narrow this health disparity by providing supplies to promote health and prevent overdoses that may lead to death. Healthcare disparities for this patient population can also be narrowed by educating all medical staff on the importance of needle exchange. Bias training would also be helpful for healthcare staff because many people have a strong bias towards recreational drug use. This bias can stand in the way of providing the best care for our patients.

            I will apply what I learned during our in-class presentation to my nursing practice by always being aware of my own bias. Every person has certain biases that may impair the best possible care. Challenging our own biases is essential to promote good nursing practice. I also would like to acquire naloxone that I can carry with me. This way if I ever find myself in a situation where a person may have overdosed while I am not working as a nurse, I will be able to effectively help them until 911 services are able to respond. This may give a person a better chance of surviving an overdose and will not be harmful, so for me carrying naloxone is an easy decision.