Hello, I would just like to share a few thoughts with you about what goes on at a needle exchange.
First, of course, one is able to acquire new needles,very important in reducing the spread of AIDS and Hepetitis C.
But there are many other services offered at this site.
There is no need to let abcesses linger and fester, becoming a danger to your health.
Wound Care is available, free of charge and free of hassles.
Also offered is Acupunture and Herbal medicines, which really work on many of the ailments associated with drug use.
Of course these services have not always been so readily available.
At one time it was illegal to distribute needles.
Those doing so put themselves at risk of arrest and prosecution to provide clean needles to the community.
When I first started going to the exchange site it was located on 29th St., on the side of the railroad tracks.
The group would set up shop and people would come by, in a hurry not to get caught.
Many times the police would be lurking about, waiting to catch someone with needles.
Many times I would have to hide my package so that it would not get taken by the police, on a good day,
or used as a charge of paraphernalia, on a bad day.