Does giving out sterile syringes encourage the use of illicit substances?
NEPs do not promote the idea that injecting is a great thing, nor do they propagate the lifestyle as romantic or desirable. Instead, when it comes to administering services to minimize drug related harm, there is no moral judgment regarding an individual’s drug use. The intent is not to get people sober (even though this does happen), but to provide health information and access to safer injection equipment that will inevitably save their lives while they are using. Furthermore, research has shown that this approach actually creates the conditions for people to manage or decrease their drug use. People come to the needle exchange and feel comfortable because they are not being judged. This provides a safe and trusting environment so people can share important information about their lives – which is the first step towards making life changes, whatever those changes might be.
