Before this presentation I had heard of needle exchange programs but did not know too much about them. I knew that some needle exchange programs would take dirty needles from clients and give them clean ones. One preconceived notion I had about needle exchange problems was that needle exchange was the only service provided. I now know that there are many services provided to clients such as blood tests, safe supplies, Narcan, and test strips. I was also not too familiar with the concept of harm reduction, but this presentation gave me a better background on it. This presentation gave me better knowledge of how “meeting people where they are at” works much better than stigmatizing drug use and shaming clients for it.
I think harm reduction is a good way to help resolve healthcare disparities with this affected population. I believe that educating people about harm reduction will also help stigma around this issue as some people believe the principle of harm reduction is not effective, and don’t agree with the idea of needle exchange. Many people who use drugs also experience mental health issues, so being able to provide free and accessible mental health services would also help improve this healthcare disparity. I will apply what I learned in this presentation to nursing practice. I will be mindful of how I care for patients who use drugs and provide them resources if they would like them.
This was an eye-opening presentation for many. Thanks for sharing.