The program's goal is to mitigate the spread of diseases, including HIV, hepatitis C and tuberculosis. The fresh mouthpiece prevents transfer of spit or blood from sores, and the screen discourages addicts from using a Brillo pad, which contains harmful ingredients.And not a word about recovery.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Crack-pipe project to be reviewed
I'd love to know more about the rate of disease transmission through crack pipes and respiratory illness resulting from inhaling brillo smoke:
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3 comments:
The recovery part would come from people picking up the packs, good workers in both this kind of project and needle exchanges encourage people to seek treatment and make positive changes like reduction in use far earlier in thier drug use than would otherwise happen.
As most location cannot attract crack users with any kind of substitute script like they can with heroin use this kind of project is needed to encourage people to seek change.
The larger picture though is that its not just the person using the crack that its designed to help but the greater community. HepB+C are a risk to other that may come into contact with substance users either though day to day social contacts or sex workers. A spike in the viruses in a drug using community normally are associated with a spike in infections in the wider community.
Its also important to remember that for someone to seek 'recovery' they have to be alive.
Doesn't the failure to mention anything about recovery speak to its priority?
My problem is that I rarely meet a precontemplative crack addicts. If they appear precontemplative, it's because they lost hope that they can recover, that anyone else thinks they can recover and that anyone will provide meaningful help to get them into recovery. I've got no problem with interventions to keep them alive, but harm reduction should be recovery-oriented, which means balancing a lot of considerations. More here: http://www.dawnfarm.org/harmreduction.html
If you're practicing something resembling recovery-oriented harm reduction, my hat's off to you. However, that does not appear to be the norm.
I am a huge fan of recovery focused harm reduction. I have been involved in needle exchange programs for over 3 years. What I have come to realize is that sobriety is not for everyone and ultimately it is up to the individual to make that determination. What I believe, is that we as a society have the responsibility to protect our community from the spread of disease and as social workers and people in helping professions, we have the responsibility to meet the client where they are at, even if it isn't where we would like them to be. This promotes self-determination and safety. I have met many crack addicts while doing street outreach and those who are ready to talk treatment, we talk about it, the problem comes up when there is no place for them to go, or no long term treatment opportunities that would really provide them with tools. I have said many times that we have to have a multifaceted approach to treatment and recovery, that includes options in and outside of AA and treatment. This also includes the idea that recovery is not for everyone. I am not ready to turn my back on those individuals and they deserve the same thought and consideration as those ready to go into recovery right now. This is client centered and sometimes I wonder as we evolve in our theories and perspectives if we don't forget some of the fundemental aspects of social work or think that they are not applicable when it comes to the field of substance abuse.
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