The Underground Syringe Exchange of Denver keeps dirty needles off the street by exchanging clean syringes to injection drug users. Volunteer run, we provide information about HEP C and HIV infection, safe practices for injection, and referrals for heath care, treatment and sobriety.
U.S.E.D. is underground because syringe exchanges are illegal in Colorado. For more information on U.S.E.D. or the philosophy of Harm Reduction, please browse our site.
Excellent News:
On Wednesday April 14th, SB 189, which essential allows for a legal syringe exchange in Denver, cleared the state Health and Human Services Committee by a 5-2 vote and will be up for a full vote later this month!
Colorado is one of only 17 states that does NOT have a LEGAL syringe exchange program, and YOU can help change this!
Let's tell OUR policy makers that WE WANT CHANGE!
CALL YOUR POLICY MAKERS!
You could say:
My name is ____________ and I live in ____________. (i.e. Baker, your district, Denver, etc.)
*I understand that Clean Syringe Exchange programs save lives and have been demonstrated to decrease new cases of HIV contraction by 10% and perhaps even greater numbers of Hepatitis C contraction.
*I understand that Clean Syringe Exchange programs do not promote drug use, but rather provide a link for IV drug users to find support and recovery.
*I understand that as my policy maker, you have to power to accurately represent my belief that Clean Syringe Exchange programs are a necessary step in keeping my community healthy.
Thank you for supporting Senate Bill 189, Clean Syringe Exchange is good for me, my family and Colorado.
* Sen. Betty Boyd: 303-866-4857
* Sen. Morgan Carroll:303-866-4879
* Sen. Rollie Heath: 303-866-4872
* Sen. Chris Romer:303-656-9532
* Sen. Lois Tochtrop: 303-866-4863
* Sen. Moe Keller: 303-866-2585
* Sen. Bob Bacon: 303-866-4841
* Sen. Joyce Foster: 303-866-4875
* Sen. Dan Gibbs: 303-866-4873
* Sen. Mary Hodge: 303-866-4855
* Sen. Evie Hudak: 303-866-4840
* Sen. Michael Johnston: 303-866-4864
* Sen. John P. Morse 303-866-6364
* Sen. Linda Newell: 303-866-4846
* Sen. Paula E. Sandoval: 303-866-4862
* Sen. Gail Schwartz:303-866-4871
* Sen. Brandon C. Shaffer: 303-866-3342
* Sen. Abel J. Tapia: 303-866-2581
* Sen. Bruce Whitehead: 303-866-4884
* Sen. Suzanne Williams: 303-866-3432
It is vital that legislators see how many people support the rights of everyone to be safer and more cared for.
Love,
U.S.E.D.
Below is a great video with an explanation and a short history of syringe exchange programs, as well as an illustration of how harm reduction and syringe exchange programs actively save lives.
Click here for the source of this video and a short write up of the current situation with syringe exchange programs and federal funding.
Excerpts from the article:
There are already more than 200 syringe exchange programs all around the US that provided 30 million sterile needles and syringes for drug users last year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2,397 US citizens died of AIDS in 2007 were reportedly infected through the sharing of injecting equipment.
According to a UN World Health Organization report based on the meta-analysis of more than 200 studies, needle exchange programs do not increase drug use but they effectively reduce HIV infections among people who have been already injecting.
Come out and support Denver Underground Syringe Exchange at this kick ass benefit show, featuring music by Pirate Signal, DJ Amuse, MC Joy and others.
See the short version of the documentary about Denver USED, produced by Denver's own Improbable Pictures.
Live art auction with creations from local artists.
Clean needles save lives!
You can find a link to a very informative analysis of syringe exchange programs by Sarah Coffey of D.U. School of Social work at the Relevant Studies section.
Cocaine study that got up the nose of the US
Ben Goldacre
Saturday June 13 2009
The Guardian
In areas of moral and political conflict people will always behave badly with evidence, so the war on drugs is a consistent source of entertainment. We have already seen how cannabis being "25 times stronger" was a fantasy, how drugs-?related deaths were quietly dropped from the measures for drugs policy, and how a trivial pile of poppies was presented by the government as a serious dent in the Taliban's heroin revenue.
Click the link below to read the article!
http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_12374733?source=commented-
It was no surprise that President Obama retained the language that
prohibits spending federal funds on syringe exchange programs in the
President's Fiscal Year 2010 Budget. We had been receiving that
message since the inauguration.
Fortunately, Obama's disappointing inaction is not the major loss it
might appear. The main mechanism for removing the ban is Congress, and
currently the US House of Representatives. The timing for removal of
the ban in the 2010 budget is NOW, as the Labor, Health and Education
Appropriations bill, in which the ban lies, will be put together in
U.S.E.D. was recently the front page story in the Westword, click below to read.
Why doesn't Colorado get the point of needle exchange programs?
