Drugs, Lies, and Needles

Drugs, Lies, and Needles

Drugs, Lies, and Needles

Two arguments, two different topics, both have to do with drugs or the assumption of drug use. The federal government and state government’s contradict themselves by the laws or stances taken on issues concerning drugs. The first argument argues against restricting a syringe exchange program, dirty for clean. The second argues whether a clinically insane prisoner should be provided anti-psychotic drugs before being put to death. This paper discusses both issues, taking a stance on one side or the other.

Needles

The 1980’s signaled a new war in America, the war on drugs. The First Lady, Nancy Reagan, started the “Just Say No” campaign, which swept across elementary schools across the country. The Reagan presidency amped up drug enforcement in every state. This caused an increase of non-violent drug arrests from fifty thousand in 1980, to over four hundred thousand in 1997 (A Brief History, n.d.). Hysteria over the drug known as “crack” led to the famous anti-drug commercials comparing a pan of cooking eggs to a persons brain on drugs. In the midst of the drug controversy, AIDS was introduced to America. AIDS can be transmitted through intercourse, blood transfusions, and utilizing dirty or contaminated needles.

On November 4, 1988, the United States government enacted the first ban on needle exchange programs. Unless the Surgeon General declared that the program would reduce drug abuse, the act would stand (Vlahov et al, 2001). The act itself restricted federal funding for needle exchange or bleach to clean needles. The fear, resulting in the bill, claimed the exchange program would increase drug use. The evidence suggest differently.

In 1983, Amsterdam began the first needle exchange program to lessen the spread of Hepatitis B. Burning (1991) conducted a study to see if the Amsterdam program decreased the spread of disease (p. 1). The study found that Hepatitis B had decreased and HIV remained...