Vending machines could help stop the spread of diseases.
Addiction unfortunately affects more people than you may realize. That's why the Southern Nevada Health District, Trac-B Exchange, and the Nevada AIDS Research and Education Society teamed up to implement vending machines with clean needles for intravenous drug users. The hope is that this will cut down on the spread of disease. [caption id="attachment_13466" align="aligncenter" width="711"]
Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Review Journal[/caption]
Just like a machine that would dispense your favorite candy bar, this machine will release cardboard boxes that will have clean syringes and disposable containers to place the used needles. Not only will there be clean needles, but it will also offer supplies for wounds and safe intercourse.
Having access to clean syringes is a harm-reduction approach that’s going to allow people to protect themselves against getting communicable diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C,” Chelsi Cheatom, program manager for Trac-B Exchange.The first few machines will be in place at the end of May at Trac-B Exchange, Aid for AIDS Nevada, and the Community Counseling Center, all located in the Las Vegas area. People who need clean needles can register at any of the three locations without providing personal info. This is intended to offer a safe and low-pressure way of decreasing the spread of disease for an illegal activity.
It’s a very successful intervention to do harm reduction,” Dr. Joseph Iser, the district’s chief health officer states.Las Vegas might be the first city implementing these vending machines, but depending on how well they do, it probably won't be the last.
What do you think of this? Should these machines be implemented here? Let us know in the comments!
