The panel began with explanations of what were labeled the "Disease Model" and the "Harm Reduction Model." The Disease Model, which is circulated largely by the media and is what most children learn about in drug education programs such as D.A.R.E., describes drug addiction or alcohol use as a disease that must be cured through eliminating the addiction and desire from the afflicted individual. This model views all addicts as dealing with similar problems that doctors can treat and understand. However, the Harm Reduction Model, according to one of the panelists takes a different approach. "[This model] says, 'While you're doing this, how can you be as safe as possible?'" explained one panelist.
The goal of the Harm Reduction Model is not to stop people from using drugs completely, but rather to reduce the potential harm to which drug users are exposed. Each person is considered a unique case in which the person knows what is best for him or herself.
The Disease Model employs statements such as, "Addicted to one thing means addicted to all things," and "Once an addict always an addict." In contrast, the Harm Reduction Model uses statements such as, "You may be addicted to the heroin you use every day but not to the marijuana you smoke on weekends," and, "You can stop drinking and later learn to drink moderately, or you can stop drinking and be over it. You aren't addicted to alcohol."
One of the panel members explained that the Harm Reduction Model could be applied to a variety of activities. She added that students use this type of model whenever they assign a designated driver.
Needle exchange programs are an extension of the Harm Reduction Model. These programs, the panelists explained, provide intravenous drug users with sterile needles in exchange for used needles in an attempt to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
One panel member explained that the sharing of used and infected needles accounts for one-third of all HIV infections in the United States and 56 percent of the HIV cases in nearby Springfield, Mass. However, Springfield officials refuse to approve the operation of needle exchange programs.
Another panelist explained that the environmental and economic situation in Springfield breeds needle sharing. "There's continuing a habit and that habit is important to you. And there's a place where there's economic impoverishment and clean needles aren't available. I think when I explain it that way maybe it would make it easier to explain why people would share needles," the panelist said. "It's not because they're stupid, it's not because they're self-destructive, horrible people who don't care about their health and all these other sorts of other undertones in the pictures that we get of drug users that go on in society. It's because they're rational people and they can make rational decisions in difficult situations; you know perhaps [they are] not the best decisions but [they are] decisions that have reasons behind them."
Maria Jones '05, the event's organizer, had worked with Arise for Social Justice and was interested in having members of the group speak at the College. "The panelists were all from the WISE, Women in Support of Each Other, a committee of Arise for Social Justice," she said. "I have interned at Arise [for Social Justice] on and off since Interterm of my sophomore year; I think they do amazing work, and [I] have tried in the last couple years to make connections between them and the College whenever possible."
Jones also hoped the panel would foster discussion on the issue of needle exchange. "A second important goal of the panel was a hope of illustrating that political issues we may discuss here in the Amherst bubble on a theoretical level have real and important impacts on the lives of many people in our valley," she said. "The perspective of an active drug user is not one many of us would often hear."
Jones was pleased with the event. "I thought the panel was quite successful, well-attended and well-received, although it would have been nice to have had the attendance of some of the College Republicans or other more politically conservative individuals," she said. "However, it didn't feel at all like preaching to the choir, as many in attendance were not very familiar with needle exchange or the underlying strategy of harm reduction."
Alex Pacheco '08 said he attended the event on behalf of the College Libertarians and because of an interest in the War on Drugs. "This panel discussion only reaffirmed my beliefs in the legalization of currently illegal drugs. Listening to a person who has lived the life of a drug user and people who have actually run needle-exchange clinics had much more of an effect on me," he said. "I was especially impressed by how they made both practical arguments and philosophical arguments against the illegality of drugs and the ban on needle exchange programs, using both statistics and their own life experiences to back these arguments."
People interested in the topics of needle exchange, harm reduction, or Arise for Social Justice can contact Jones at mrjones@amherst.edu.