Catholic Charities began providing syringe exchange today in Albany, New York.
“I strongly believe in this. It will save lives,” said Sister Maureen Joyce, CEO of Catholic Charities.
The syringe exchange program will operate with the blessing of the bishop of the local Catholic diocese. And with the support of local police, prosecutors, and public health officials.
The Albany Times Union newspaper did a good job covering the story here.
Health officials quoted in the news article say that 50 percent of new HIV infections were linked to injection drug use in 1990. The percentage dropped to 7 percent by 2004 thanks to the implementation of syringe exchange in many parts of New York state. This will be the first syringe exchange in Albany, the state capital.
I was pleased with this story, but not entirely surprised.
When I began a syringe exchange program through my workplace (a large mental health and drug treatment agency), I experienced first hand how open people are to syringe exchange when they are given the chance to understand the program and have their questions and concerns addressed.
We too opened our syringe exchange with a letter of support from the police chief, and the mayor’s office. We also had the support of the local business association and the state department of health.
What was even more wonderful, from my perspective, was the fact that we had the active support of several churches. The Episcopal Cathedral allowed us to use their church hall as one of our syringe exchange sites. And later, the Catholic diocese rented us a building at 50 percent of fair market value.
I feel strongly that syringe exchange is ethically and morally just. And I am pleased to see communities of faith participating in this work.
I attended a syringe exchange conference not long after starting our syringe exchange program, and one of the workshops was about syringe exchange by communities of faith. I recall a minister from a black church was one of the participants, as was someone from Catholic Charities of Minneapolis, MN.
If you have any interest in syringe exchange or the work of communities of faith with people who inject, I suggest you read the article linked to above. It is a good read.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds like a great program, way to go nuns! (my aunt is a nun). I am all for stopping the spreading of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. I’m always surprised at how many people oppose syringe exchange because we all know that an addict is GOING TO USE A NEEDLE. Providing clean ones is a help, its not enabling the addiction.
Yet, I can see the controversy. Would I supply my son with a clean needle? No. So how can I be for this if I would not do that? I guess when its your own loved one it seems like your condoning it.
Barbara, I can see how it might feel odd to supply your son with a sterile syringe. Some parents feel the same way about condoms.
It may be more appropriate for you to educate him about how to find access to sterile syringes on his own. If there are syringe programs in the area, or over the counter sale of syringes is legal in your state, that might be a more comfortable option for both of you.
It may be illegal for you to directly supply him with a syringe, so that is something to consider too.
This is obviously a personal decision.
Would I tell someone I loved that it is important to use a syringe only once and safely dispose of it. I would. Would I tell them where they could find access to syringes and other safer injections supplies? I would. Would I drive them to a syringe exchange program. Yes. Would I drive them to a pharmacy and give them money to buy syringes? Yes.
I’m sharing that just for information, not because I think that my approach is necessarily the right answer for you or any other parent.
As you know, I run a program for people who inject that includes a syringe exchange program. So I have had time to think this through, gain experience, and observe results. I am also not the parent of any of the syringe exchange clients. Parent status brings a whole other dynamic to the situation, although for me I think the result would be the same.
Part of the reason I posted on this story, is because I think it is important for people who are new to the idea of syringe exchange to understand that this is not a fringe idea. It is accepted by the informed mainstream. Just ask Sister Maureen!