This week I am DRAINED!!!! This simulation took it out of me. Having to take 35 pills a day was not only inconvenient but hard. I hate swallowing things in the first place, but I really wanted to act like it was a matter of life or death. Whenever I told friends what I was doing they thought it was ridiculous, and to be honest when I first joined this class and looked at all the assignments, I thought the simulation was crazy. But after going through this class, and learning everything I have, I think it really forced me to live the life of an AIDS patient. Even with learning and reading about having HIV, no one can really understand what it's like to have it until they do. This simulation gave me a slight glimpse of what it would be like to have AIDS.
DID YOU KNOW:
One thing that I have realized through out this class, articles I've read, modules I've done is that our prevention methods have not really worked. New ideas are forming such as the needle exchanged program, but what will really work? The question was asked whether I thought having a microchip implanted in HIV+ patients to track their actions was ethical and I completely believe that it is against anything I believe in. Yes, it could help slow transmission rates, but what would be giving up for that, our freedom. The United States stands proud on our independence. According to Avert.org, "The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report in 2004 that reviewed the effectiveness of needle exchange programmes in many countries, and whether they promoted or prolonged illicit drug use; the results produced convincing evidence that needle exchange programmes significantly reduce HIV infection, and no evidence that they encourage drug use" (Avert, 2009). The first time I heard of this program, I immediatly thought that is was not a good idea because it was promoting drug use. After doing some research on it, I think it is actually a good idea. One thing I have seen is that people that are going to do drugs will find a way. I will compare it to using a condom. Does giving out free condoms promote sex? I believe that offering free needle exchange will help the transmission of AIDS and will not encourage drug exchange, but promote safety.
Needle exchange and harm reduction. (2009). Retrieved September 10, 2009, from the official Advert.org Website: http://avert.org/needle-exchange.htm
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Free needle exchange is such a great idea becuase there are so many blood borne diseases that are transmitted. Drug users are going to use drugs whether or not they can get free needles. Therefore giving out sterilized needles would cost down for when the government has to take care of potential HIV victims. For what, a small cost of a needle? YOur absolutley right that it does not promote drug use.
ReplyDeleteI would like to make a correction on your post-"Actions was ethical and I completely believe that it is against anything I believe in." I believe the term was "unethical." Also, 35 pills!!! that insane. Why did you pick that combination? That must have been tough. I had to keep up with 11 pills and that was tough.
Jenna you are so right about the meds draining you. I can't imagine what life would be like with all of the schedules and making those little concessions for making your life better. I was absolutely horrified when it was time to post my assignment. I couldn't find it anywhere. So I've been typing for the past 5 hours trying to repiece what I lost. So for draining I understand entirely!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Think about it this way - Most likely you don't inject drugs. If they did a needle exchange program would that make you want to do drugs?
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of people tell me the M&M thing was ridiculous too. They were like, "Why don't you just make up the whole thing?" or "Why don't you just chew the M&M and say you swallowed it?" And I could have done that but like you, I wanted to take it seriously and see what it would really feel like.
I think that giving out free condoms and the needle exchange programs will promote safety way more than it would do harm. I have learnt a lot throughout the semester as we went through several assignments and modules. It has been a wonderful experience overall in understanding HIV with different perspectives.
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