Needle Exchange -- one more thing > Rexroad.com

It is 0108 and I can't sleep.

I realize that many of you think that my objection to this needle exchange program is because you think I am some sort of right wing nut job. I get that. Certainly part of my objection is that these drug users need to take responsibility for their actions.

The real objection I have is as a father. I am probably the member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors that uses the play equipment in our parks the most. I am probably the elected official in Yolo County that uses our local parks the most --- just due to the age of my kids. Abbie is 4 and Adam is 22 months.

The comments that come in support of my position on this are not my Republican friends. They are coming from my friends and neighbors that are parents -- with no regard for politics. My wife is far more liberal than I am and she is really fired up over this. She wants to write a letter to all of my colleagues and let them have it. For those of you that don't know my wife - that is saying a ton.

The parents are the ones that find beer bottles in the sand area, used condoms on the lawn, burn marks on equipment, and written words on the playground equipment. We are also the ones that provide our own security in the park when random little gang bangers come walking through the park.

These are the people that are most appalled by the needle exchange program. To them it a choice to take care of the drug user with the risk being carried by their children.

Comments

By thebigreason @ Monday, June 30, 2008 9:51 AM

I don't align myself with a political party. I favor the side of reason, and facts. Providing a means for people to more safely break the law seems counter productive to a society, regardless of dollar savings. Based on this general assumption and the fact that this program has already shown a dangerous lack of common sense, I think the time has come to suspend it until its effectiveness can be fully reviewed.

And as far as the dollar savings go, has the $260,000 price tag for each HIV+ hobo (as stated by deputy director Cheryl Boney in the Daily Democrat) been measured against the cost of enforcing the laws and prosecuting the crimes related to what goes into filling these free needles?

I imagine it's hard to quantify a dollar amount for putting the public at risk to theft, assault, and needle pokes, but this still needs to be taken into account. The cheapest way doesn't always mean the best way.

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