Needle Exchange experience

[Duckfeet]

I went for first time ever to a needle exchange today. I had a good motive: I wanted to exchange a few "too small point", for some 28 gauges. I also had the other motive: Needle exchanges are like oldtime methadone clinics were, a good place to meet fellow travelers, for whater reasons. Particularly if you aren't so familiar with area. Plus I was trying to kill some time. I had fixed some stuff without enough time passing from sub dose. I didn't feel hardly shit, and needed to go do something for a while, before I gave it another shot...

It was pretty cool. Raggedy looking old hypes like me, looked to be living in their cars, all with that junky wazzup look. Younger, cooler versions, pretty girls w/tattoos, guys obviously on the hustle. It was really a neat deal. Call me sick, but I like that shit... They either didn't have exchanges back in my rippin and runnin days, or I didn't need'em. But the guy took me inside the trlr, wrote down some info to make me an i.d. card. (this card is strictly for *my* benefit: if some cop stops me, that's a stay-out-of-jail card.) didn't even need exchange fits, for first time...I couldn't believe it...

I was treated so well. He was very knowldgeable about the Heroin Maintenance clinical trial going on up in Vancouver, gave me tons of info about that and other shit I was interested in. I had just dropped by the old mdone clinic I went to, to get the address, and found out they owed me over a hundred bucks :-) Both people at xchange were knowledgable, respectful, curious. Jesus, to be open about what I am, and to meet friendly people, helping society's outcasts... Gave me a little paper bag with a tie, a cooker, anything else I needed...well, not *anything*...but u know....

Went downtown to Chicano Park, stopped and ate at famous oldtime lowrent Mexican eaterie.

Then home, check out the waves, too small, too blown out, buzzed around on Vespa, sat on Sunset Cliffs, read my little bio book by Burroughs pal, Herbert Huncke, watched the waves and sunset.

Came home, tried again, got nice rush and buzz....ah, if it were only always like today. But we appreciate'em, don't take'em for granted. I might be on a bit of tailspin, I know, but still, gotta enjoy the ride...

[AWOL]

Damn man, sounds like your havin one good end of the year for sure! Sounds like one hell of a good day in my book. Good story man. BTW, what'd ya end up shootin? H, D's ? ?

[blackdog]

happy-happy joy-joy good for you seriously
really am glad to hear that good shit does happen.
we always hear the negative aspects of lifes goings on.
anyway whatever??
peace cuz da/dawgg:p

[Ragdoll]

Ducky, that is such a positive needle exchange experience! Wow....I'm all excited fer ya, bro. Sounds like a place you'd want to keep in touch with. I would LOVE to volunteer, at this point in my life, at a needle exchange clinic. I feel I could do some good work in one. Not sure how to volunteer, though.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your story - and that Mexican lunch, man, now that sounds GOOD. :)

[nick]

Glad you approved of needle exchannge bro.They're set up for peeps like us,so it's cool when they work so well.
The weird thing is,I thought needle exchange in California was better than the state funded works exchange here,in the UK.
Anyway bro,good to see you catching the odd break and finding a little peace.
p.S.There are some nice Hunke short stories some about his time in jail.There's one called Cuba(if memory serves)which is pretty cool.

[Duckfeet]

Glad you approved of needle exchannge bro.They're set up for peeps like us,so it's cool when they work so well.
The weird thing is,I thought needle exchange in California was better than the state funded works exchange here,in the UK.
Anyway bro,good to see you catching the odd break and finding a little peace.
p.S.There are some nice Hunke short stories some about his time in jail.There's one called Cuba(if memory serves)which is pretty cool.

Well you know Nick, I'd been out of this life for years, and I'm a self-centered dope fiend, and last time I went out, ending mostly down in SE Texas, the term "harm reduction" meant nothing to me. It was either people telling me to stop, how to stop, where to go to stop, when to stop...or other junkies like me scurrying around in the darkness beleagurered and afraid. Methadone clinics were condescending and rude, and needles were often blunt and used by many.

This time when the life came back and got me, I was fortunate to be online, where I first ran across the term "harm reduction," often used in conjunction with needle exchanges, and efforts, like that in Vancouver, to provide medical heroin trials as a simple way of fixing a terrible problem. I know you yourself are involved in this, and the terrible struggle you have gone thru in order to attend a conference here, giving up what to me would have been impossible.

But it was the first time ever, that I had been able to talk to educated--non-political in the best sense--people who were simply trying to help me stay alive, no buildup to a religious or treatment center sermon, simply young people, who could have been elsewhere, giving me some tools to hang in.

The literature itself was amazing to me. It actually told--and showed--how to fix, where to fix, how to use a syringe, how to avoid viruses and infections. Stuff about the flesh-eating bacteria we've talked about on here before. Info on making veins pop back up...and finally, when I was leaving, giving me a little bag with brand new rigs, a tie, and little cooker. Still stunned, Nick, so thank you and others who soldier on in this field, trying to help voiceless people. Harm reduction and those of you involved in it, in whatever capacity, are sure appreciated by me. Speaking of which, I'm off to call NAOMI now, see if there is any chance. Thanks for all your help and support, Nick.

[applesauce]

Does anybody happen to know how many Harm Reduction programs give out syringe filters? I've been reading more and more about this, and it seems like a good idea.

Someone recently told me that there is at least one H.R. program in the US where you can get Naloxone in Epi-Pen type injectors, so if someone ODs you can just hit them with the pen. WDs are (probably) better than death. This particular program allows you two cartridges of Narcan and if you need another one, you have to explain what you did with your previous one (collecting demographics on overdose or the usefulness of the H.R. program, possibly).

[Papa Verine]

Does anybody happen to know how many Harm Reduction programs give out syringe filters? I've been reading more and more about this, and it seems like a good idea.

Someone recently told me that there is at least one H.R. program in the US where you can get Naloxone in Epi-Pen type injectors, so if someone ODs you can just hit them with the pen. WDs are (probably) better than death. This particular program allows you two cartridges of Narcan and if you need another one, you have to explain what you did with your previous one (collecting demographics on overdose or the usefulness of the H.R. program, possibly).

You can get Narcan at the needle exchange in Chicago. I don't know where else they do this but it saved my life once. My girlfreind had to give me a shot and she was really cool about it. She gave me just enough to wake me up but not enough to completely kill my high. I don't even remember it actually...

[OxyContinuously]

I went for first time ever to a needle exchange today. I had a good motive: I wanted to exchange a few "too small point", for some 28 gauges. I also had the other motive: Needle exchanges are like oldtime methadone clinics were, a good place to meet fellow travelers, for whater reasons. Particularly if you aren't so familiar with area. Plus I was trying to kill some time. I had fixed some stuff without enough time passing from sub dose. I didn't feel hardly shit, and needed to go do something for a while, before I gave it another shot...

It was pretty cool. Raggedy looking old hypes like me, looked to be living in their cars, all with that junky wazzup look. Younger, cooler versions, pretty girls w/tattoos, guys obviously on the hustle. It was really a neat deal. Call me sick, but I like that shit... They either didn't have exchanges back in my rippin and runnin days, or I didn't need'em. But the guy took me inside the trlr, wrote down some info to make me an i.d. card. (this card is strictly for *my* benefit: if some cop stops me, that's a stay-out-of-jail card.) didn't even need exchange fits, for first time...I couldn't believe it...

I was treated so well. He was very knowldgeable about the Heroin Maintenance clinical trial going on up in Vancouver, gave me tons of info about that and other shit I was interested in. I had just dropped by the old mdone clinic I went to, to get the address, and found out they owed me over a hundred bucks :-) Both people at xchange were knowledgable, respectful, curious. Jesus, to be open about what I am, and to meet friendly people, helping society's outcasts... Gave me a little paper bag with a tie, a cooker, anything else I needed...well, not *anything*...but u know....

Went downtown to Chicano Park, stopped and ate at famous oldtime lowrent Mexican eaterie.

Then home, check out the waves, too small, too blown out, buzzed around on Vespa, sat on Sunset Cliffs, read my little bio book by Burroughs pal, Herbert Huncke, watched the waves and sunset.

Came home, tried again, got nice rush and buzz....ah, if it were only always like today. But we appreciate'em, don't take'em for granted. I might be on a bit of tailspin, I know, but still, gotta enjoy the ride...


Duckfeet, you are seriously a fucking amazing writer. It just flows so smoothly.


OxyC

[OxyContinuously]

You can get Narcan at the needle exchange in Chicago. I don't know where else they do this but it saved my life once. My girlfreind had to give me a shot and she was really cool about it. She gave me just enough to wake me up but not enough to completely kill my high. I don't even remember it actually...


Boy, that would have fucking sucked BIG TIME w/ out the Narcan!!


OxyC

[SpecialGuy69]

Duck it sounds like you had an awesome day- that's what dope should be all about- just a part of an otherwise cool day, and not an obsession. I love eating a really good meal when I'm on the nod! Nothing like it.

I wish I was retired, Duck, I'd go out to SoCal and ride waves and party with you and listen to the stories about the (bad/good) old days. Maybe one day...

[Ragdoll]

Glad you approved of needle exchannge bro.They're set up for peeps like us,so it's cool when they work so well.
The weird thing is,I thought needle exchange in California was better than the state funded works exchange here,in the UK.
Anyway bro,good to see you catching the odd break and finding a little peace.
p.S.There are some nice Hunke short stories some about his time in jail.There's one called Cuba(if memory serves)which is pretty cool.

Nick, now, that's interesting to me, because all of my life I've heard about how the UK has superior needle exchange programs, while ours here in California are not well-funded or placed as a medical/governmental priority. I'd really like to learn more about this, the differences, etc.