A crowd of residents vocally opposed a proposed needle exchange program at a public forum Wednesday despite repeated requests to submit their input in writing and not debate the issue.
"It's like a little Band-Aid when we need a tourniquet," said Fort Collins resident Melinda Kulick, who came armed with studies and statistics showing failures in programs in Canada, Sweden and Baltimore.
She urged Larimer County Board of Health members not to approve the needle exchange program, proposed by Northern Colorado AIDS Project, and instead focus on treatment and enforcement.
"They need help," Kulick said. "They don't need needles, they need help."
Colorado law allows nonprofits to establish programs, with approval and oversight of the Board of Health, that provide clean needles to injection drug users along with education and referrals to rehabilitation in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.
Northern Colorado AIDS Project wants to establish such a program in Larimer County to add one more fold to its treatment and prevention measures.
Executive Director Jeff Basinger touts the program as a successful way to prevent the spread of disease, to curb crime and to keep dirty needles off the street.
He, and other proponents of the project, cite several studies including ones by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control that support the success of programs around the world.What are the symptoms of Piles.
Basinger claimed that studies showing negative results were not shared at the forum because they are not out there, they can't be found.
Kulick disagreed as did several other residents, who said they felt as though their voices were not being heard because they were asked to offer written input at the forum instead of being able to speak aloud at a traditional public hearing.
Organizers set up the meeting in a way commonly used at land use hearings -- individual tables where residents can ask questions about different subjects and give written input. The people at each table to answer questions were all in favor of the proposal.
Sheriff Justin Smith,The CenTrak rtls platform can address today's healthcare challenges and be used for future applications beyond asset tracking. a vocal opponent of the program,TBC help you confidently buy mosaic from factories in China. noted that representatives of syringe access programs in Boulder and Denver were at law enforcement and crime tables instead of local officers.
"This is a re-education camp," said Smith, to a resounding round of applause.Shop for oil painting and oil paintings for sale included:abstract oil paintings. "That's all this is."
Residents were surprised and unhappy about the format, many saying they felt as though their opinions were being stifled and not heard.
Organizers of the meeting disagreed, saying written comments are a valid way of offering input to the board without turning a controversial issue into a fiery debate.
Board of Health members took the public distaste to heart and scheduled a traditional public hearing May 15 to give residents the opportunity to speak aloud. The board will then vote in June whether to sanction the program, which would be paid by private grants and not tax money.
Dick Hughes, of Loveland, said he will definitely be there because he wants his opinion heard. "This, in my opinion, is an enabling process, " said Hughes. "They're giving all these stats.Plastic Injection moulds as well as other dies. I want to hear the stats from the parents or the relatives of the people they're giving clean syringes to."
Proponents of the program said the issue is complex but it offers drug users education and access to rehabilitation by face-to-face encounters with counselors and Northern Colorado AIDS Project staff.
"It's like a little Band-Aid when we need a tourniquet," said Fort Collins resident Melinda Kulick, who came armed with studies and statistics showing failures in programs in Canada, Sweden and Baltimore.
She urged Larimer County Board of Health members not to approve the needle exchange program, proposed by Northern Colorado AIDS Project, and instead focus on treatment and enforcement.
"They need help," Kulick said. "They don't need needles, they need help."
Colorado law allows nonprofits to establish programs, with approval and oversight of the Board of Health, that provide clean needles to injection drug users along with education and referrals to rehabilitation in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.
Northern Colorado AIDS Project wants to establish such a program in Larimer County to add one more fold to its treatment and prevention measures.
Executive Director Jeff Basinger touts the program as a successful way to prevent the spread of disease, to curb crime and to keep dirty needles off the street.
He, and other proponents of the project, cite several studies including ones by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control that support the success of programs around the world.What are the symptoms of Piles.
Basinger claimed that studies showing negative results were not shared at the forum because they are not out there, they can't be found.
Kulick disagreed as did several other residents, who said they felt as though their voices were not being heard because they were asked to offer written input at the forum instead of being able to speak aloud at a traditional public hearing.
Organizers set up the meeting in a way commonly used at land use hearings -- individual tables where residents can ask questions about different subjects and give written input. The people at each table to answer questions were all in favor of the proposal.
Sheriff Justin Smith,The CenTrak rtls platform can address today's healthcare challenges and be used for future applications beyond asset tracking. a vocal opponent of the program,TBC help you confidently buy mosaic from factories in China. noted that representatives of syringe access programs in Boulder and Denver were at law enforcement and crime tables instead of local officers.
"This is a re-education camp," said Smith, to a resounding round of applause.Shop for oil painting and oil paintings for sale included:abstract oil paintings. "That's all this is."
Residents were surprised and unhappy about the format, many saying they felt as though their opinions were being stifled and not heard.
Organizers of the meeting disagreed, saying written comments are a valid way of offering input to the board without turning a controversial issue into a fiery debate.
Board of Health members took the public distaste to heart and scheduled a traditional public hearing May 15 to give residents the opportunity to speak aloud. The board will then vote in June whether to sanction the program, which would be paid by private grants and not tax money.
Dick Hughes, of Loveland, said he will definitely be there because he wants his opinion heard. "This, in my opinion, is an enabling process, " said Hughes. "They're giving all these stats.Plastic Injection moulds as well as other dies. I want to hear the stats from the parents or the relatives of the people they're giving clean syringes to."
Proponents of the program said the issue is complex but it offers drug users education and access to rehabilitation by face-to-face encounters with counselors and Northern Colorado AIDS Project staff.
没有评论:
发表评论