Portland's Needle Exchange Dilemma: Fear vs. Public Health

Portland is at a crossroads. The mayor is thinking about changing the city's needle exchange policy. This policy gives out clean needles to people who use drugs. The idea is to stop the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. But some people are upset about finding used needles in public places. The mayor wants to change the policy because people are complaining. But changing the policy might not be the best idea. It could make things worse. People who use drugs need clean needles. If they can't get them, they might share dirty needles. This can spread diseases.The problem is not the needle exchange policy. The problem is that there are not enough places to throw away used needles safely. The city needs to fix this. They should put more trash cans in places where people use drugs. They should also teach people how to throw away needles safely. Some people think that giving out clean needles encourages drug use. But this is not true. Studies show that needle exchange programs do not increase drug use. They save lives. They also save money. It costs less to give out clean needles than to treat diseases. Portland is known for being a caring city. But when people see signs of drug use, they often want to hide the problem instead of fixing it. This is not the right way to solve the problem. The city should work with people who use drugs. They should make sure everyone has what they need to stay healthy.