5 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
5 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
[[Health Week 8]]
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1. I haven't learned anything about overdose prevention centers before, so most of the information in the article was new to me. The idea that giving people a place to more safely use drugs makes sense to me. Similar to the establishments in the previous discussion with alcohol, allowing for a safe and controlled environment to help these people overcome and deal with their addictions seems like a good thing. One thing that surprised me is how many OPCs started out or are still operating illegally within their countries drug laws, especially centers in places in the US that are technically illegal but city governors or officials have promised not to enforce the laws. Based on research done and the long track record of these establishments, I am surprised that there are still places like the United States that they are still illegal. Even though the war on drugs in the United States started over 50 years ago, there still seem to be affects such as the legality of running an OPC.
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2. I chose to watch a video from CNN about the two overdose prevention centers located in New York City. This video described that these are places where people bring their own illegal drugs and are given the tools and space to safely take them. They also talked to one of the people who regularly goes there and some of the people that run the establishments. Many of the people working at these places are trained doctors and have the materials and abilities to treat overdoses if they happen onsite. Many of the advantages of these centers were discussed, such as providing a safe place for people to take their drugs that is not on the streets and providing resources to stop drug usage if participants are willing. The clip also talked about how the overdose prevention centers are not technically legal under federal law, although the last two mayors of New York City have promised not to enforce federal regulations and allow them to stay open.
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3. One community that I am a part of is my high school, and I think that while an OPC might not be a great idea, harm reduction services could be beneficial. My school already has a teen health center, which acts as a place for people to go when they need help. It doesn't provide the same services as the OPCs described in this weeks reading, and I think that it probably isn't the best idea to have something like that for a high school. Since most high school students using drugs likely aren't addicted yet, the school should focus more on preventative measures and education about the risks of recreational drug use. I think that OPCs can be helpful in other parts of the community, especially for adults who have been struggling with addiction for a long time. Most people would likely not be supportive of creating an OPC in a high school, but I think it could gain some support in the community for serving those in the area of the school rather than the students themselves. |