Prevention Works!

I put this up there because I believe that needle exchange programs address a very important issue & one that particularly effects neighborhoods like ours. Full disclosure, my little brother both works for, & sits on the board of, a needle exchange in Austin, TX. I also have a friend that sits on the board of Prevention Works!. But I first came into contact with the group through a Capitol Action (a local volunteer group) event. Needle exchange is part of the harm reduction strategy. Most of the addicts they serve are long term users who would likely use with, or without clean needles. By providing clean needles, Prevention Works! helps to prevent the spread of HIV, & other blood borne illnesses, not only to the users, but to their sexual partners & any children the users may have. Needle exchanges also give an incentive for users to responsively dispose of their needles, rather than simply discarding them on the ground where others may inadvertently come into contact with them. Prevention Works! operates on a one to one exchange (you must give a syringe, for each syringe that you receive). Economically, such programs are a good bet because they reduce health care cost we must all shelter in the end should a user, a family member, or other individual, become infected with anything in relation to dirty needles. If you, like me, have ever found a syringe in your yard, or during a clean-up, then you probably already understand how important a role such programs can play in our daily lives.