Government's Desperate Measure to Prevent Infectious Disease Spread
"To Stop Drugs, There's No (NO) Other Way"
The Philadelphia city government in Pennsylvania, USA, which is struggling with drug problems, is distributing free syringes to drug addicts. This is a desperate measure to prevent the spread of infectious diseases through contaminated syringes.
Pastor Chae Wang-gyu, who distributes relief supplies on Kensington Street, known as the so-called 'Zombie Street' due to the overflowing number of drug addicts, explained the local situation in detail on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 3rd.
According to Pastor Chae, it is estimated that there are an average of 8,000 to 10,000 drug addicts in Kensington, who use drugs about 20 to 50 times a day. It is reported that the opioid painkiller fentanyl is carried in containers of 100 pieces each.
Drug addicts unable to control their bodies on a street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [Image source=Twitter]
As the situation worsened uncontrollably, the city government began directly distributing syringes to citizens. Regarding this, Pastor Chae explained, "Drug addicts using fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, etc., share a single needle among several people," adding, "There is a risk of transmission of AIDS, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B."
The government is distributing syringes directly to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among drug addicts caused by sharing contaminated syringes. Pastor Chae added, "There are several programs where the government distributes (syringes) one by one."
He said, "The government has almost given up on crackdowns," and "The police are not there to catch drug users but to protect the safety of people who do not use drugs."
Pastor Chae emphasized, "(Drug addiction) must be suppressed well in the early stages. If the golden time is missed, one can never escape the temptation of drugs," and stressed, "Never try it, and when someone offers drugs, firmly say 'No'."
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