My Solution
Drug use and its effect on Women
Drugs and Syringe Exchange Programs
Plan of Prevention
Using all the data I gathered, it is clear that there are three ways to help solve this problem – education, syringe exchange programs, and AIDS centers in the Bronx specifically targeting women. If education reaches adolescents first, they will be less likely to enter risky situations and thus use this knowledge to hinder any possibility of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (10). With a moderate budget, a lot can be accomplished. Instead of using money to prolong the lives of AIDS victims, more of it should be allotted to the creation of new health standards that will educate adolescents better than a simple health course that glosses over STDs, especially in private schools. One effective way to reach students is to show a video relating to their hometown. A person living in San Francisco might find a movie on MSM interesting while a New Yorker would not. Guest speakers might be less effective because although it will show what the virus could potentially do to someone, students might be apprehensive to meet someone infected with HIV/AIDS, which can stem from misinformation. There are three main points that should be taught in a high school AIDS class: Discuss the methods of transmissions, possible ways of prevention, and treatment to those who do have AIDS. One alternate way to spread this message is to advertise a HIV prevention or treatment center in my zip code and then show an informative video discussing STDs and condom usage, give out free condoms and provide nutritious meals for those in need. For an area as urban as the Bronx, these meals will cost a lot of money. Depending on the days of the week, more or less people will come, so it is smartest to buy canned and nonperishable foods to avoid discarding food if no one comes to eat at that particular time. The free condoms will not cost much; condoms usually run for about $.25 (12). The food will be the bulk of it all. Showing a video saves money and informs people of the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Since no AIDS centers exist in my zip code, many people might flock to it to receive treatment.
A syringe exchange program in my zip code would help tremendously. First, these programs would need to advertise their services around in order to gather patients; otherwise the syringe exchange program will not receive as many patients and thus the program will be a failure. Since syringes are more expensive, this program will offer to trade clean syringes for dirty syringes for a menial fee. This fee will help towards buying food for those who are in need. If the program finds that it can support itself without the extra money coming from syringes, then the syringes will be free. Free syringes have a major plus; more drug users will use the service if it is free because they will have less financial strain on them. One goal of this SEP is to get people to dispose of syringes in safe places where no one can be infected by a stray needle.
A health center in my zip code would take care of drugs, SEPs and women. Women need care in my zip code because of the lack of services dedicated to women. They also feel another affect with drug use and seropositivity, which are related to depression. This center would need services from counseling to peer groups that assign a seropositive woman with another woman who will help her through the HIV/AIDS crisis.