Thread: I thought the Catholics were smarter than this....

Catholic Charities to give syringes to drug users

By PAUL GRONDAHL, Staff writer
First published in print: Friday, January 29, 2010
Editor's Note: To discuss this story, visit Read and React.

ALBANY-- After 20 years of alleviating suffering for people touched by AIDS, Catholic Charities will take one of its boldest steps yet on Monday: passing out free syringes to IV drug users in two urban neighborhoods to prevent the spread of the disease.


Anticipating criticism, the social services agency of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany spent five years planning and vetting the needle exchange program, which received approval from its trustees and board chairman, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.

"I understand there will be questions, but this is common sense," said Sister Maureen Joyce, CEO of Catholic Charities. "I strongly believe in this. It will save lives."

Organizers have met with neighborhood associations, drug users, police, prosecutors and AIDS activists. The program, called Project Safe Point, is supported by Albany County District Attorney David Soares, the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York and local public health officials.

The anonymity of those who use the free service will be maintained.

It is expected to reduce rates of HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases among people who use injection drugs. There is also an economic argument, since it costs an estimated $650,000 to treat an HIV-infected person throughout their lifetime.

An $83,000 custom van will be stocked with syringes and other medical supplies intended to reduce the risk of infection spread by sharing contaminated needles and unsanitary injection methods.

The van will be parked in the city's South End and Arbor Hill neighborhoods, closest to where police believe injection drug use is most prevalent.

Project Safe Point is based on 17 similar needle exchange programs in cities across the state, including Binghamton, Ithaca, Rochester, Buffalo and New York City. It will be a first for the Capital Region and is believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation sponsored by Catholic Charities.

Read more: Catholic Charities to give syringes to drug users -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY

Common sense should tell you that if someone cares so little about themselves to become addicted to a street drug that they a) are not going to bother or have the mental capacity to look for a needle van for a clean needle every time they want to get high, b) are not going to trust the same authorities looking to put them where they belong, in jail, to give them needles, c) are only going to use this opportunity to get further addicted without consequences.

This takes feeding both ends of the drug war to whole new level. I'd expect this out of the crackheads in the larger city governments, but not from the Catholic Church, one of the few voices of reason and discipline left in society. Clearly thats no longer the case, and they are using our tax dollars to do it.

If it were possible to get a concealed carry permit in this state, and go anywhere near these areas with the ability to properly defend yourself, the only proper thing to do would be to get a crowd of friends, clean out the van of needles, and promptly stick them in the front yard of the nearest Cathedral until they knock it off.

Originally Posted by Tanngrisnir3

The mind is capable of rational thought. Try it.

Why? Is that what your doing? Wouldn't that lead to a comment on the actual topic?