I failed yesterday…

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I failed yesterday… and it’s still bothering me. I usually keep a good supply of clean rigs on me, so when I’m out in the field I can help with harm reduction by passing out clean needles. I ran out last week, and I didn’t go to the Chicago Recovery Alliance van to get a fresh stock. Why didn’t I go? Laziness… didn’t feel like it. I soon regretted that.

Yesterday while I was photographing in an abandoned house over on the West Side, the gentleman that I was with didn’t have a needle. One of the other addicts in the house offered to share one of his dirty needles. He promised that he was clean and that he had just had a medical check.

I frantically looked through my bag – I thought I had a few needles in there somewhere, but I was wrong. I begged him not to use the dirty needle, and offered the only thing that I had: a large needle used for injecting Naloxone, a drug used in case of overdose. These needles are made for injecting into muscle, not a vein.

He used my needle, thankfully, but I need to make sure that I don’t run out of clean rigs. I don’t want this to happen ever again.

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Paul Donohoe
Paul Donohoe
10 years ago

With respect Chuck you didn’t fail. In fact what a great thing that you were there at just the right time. Please don’t feel.had Feel GOOD that you were there and that you helped. RESPECT to yo you Chuck..