It was a dark, rainy day when I was having a conversation with a friend of mine who has contracted hepatitis C at the young age of 20. She had gotten this horrible illness because of one shared syringe. While most people would have nothing to say to this girl except cruel words, I asked her a simple question: "why?"
And I don't mean, "why would you do drugs?" because that's probably one of the most pointless questions you could ask- after all, any idiot who has taken a high school psychology class could tell you there's a million reasons why people do drugs- stress, depression, anxiety, abuse...
The question I was asking was, "why on Earth would you share a syringe?" If I were a heroin addict, I would like to think that the Wal-Mart pharmacy would know me by name, happily selling me syringes by the box, thus preventing the spread of disease. After all, the nearest needle exchange is in Columbus. When you add in the fact that it is perfectly legal to buy syringes in the state of Ohio, and the fact that they only ring up to about $13 for a box of 100, it seems ridiculous that any drug addict would share a syringe, right? And for years, I was brainwashed to think that the drug addicts of Dayton must be so cheap, that they would rather get hepatitis than buy syringes to protect themselves.
As it turns out, that's not exactly true for most addicts. My friend told me multiple stories of trying to legally obtain syringes from the pharmacy, only to be turned down and treated like a second class citizen. One pharmacy even threatened to call the police on her for even asking for syringes- despite her not doing a single illegal thing at that point in time.
Not only does this baffle me, it actually enrages me. Pharmacies who refuse to sell syringes to drug addicts are DIRECTLY contributing to the HIV/AIDs and Hepatitis C epidemic. What they fail to understand is that most heroin addicts turn to the needle after they're already addicted to the drug and they need a more economically efficient way to do their drug to keep from being sick. If you tell an addict, "no, I won't give you a clean syringe," do you honestly think they'll say, "well I guess that means I won't do heroin!" ....Of course not! They'll just be forced to share syringes among each other!
I can count on two hands the number of people I know who are infected with Hepatitis C because of sharing syringes. Some people may say, "well if they're stupid enough to do drugs, then they deserve to have hepatitis C!" I guess by that logic, they would also argue that smokers deserve to die of cancer, and those who drink alcohol deserve to die of liver failure, right? Wrong.
Heroin addicts may get a bad reputation, but personally, most heroin addicts I've met are extremely nice, and non-judgmental and I think they deserve to be treated with some damn respect.
I think it's wrong to deny protection to these people with addiction problems. Giving them a clean syringe could save their life, and save the life of countless others. Hopefully in the future, Dayton will have a needle exchange. Until then, I will continue buying boxes of syringes and handing them out to intravenous drug users. At least I'll know I'm making a difference.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Research ideas.
What activities or products do you use that might be a good topic for your research? What will you need to know in order to evaluate the impact you are having by using these products? Write three questions that you would like to answer while doing your research.
As for ideas for my essay, I'm currently leaning towards the impact of eating meat on the environment. I am an animals rights activist, but have struggled with the idea of becoming vegetarian. Hopefully doing an essay on the effects of eating meat might be able to influence me a little more.
My back-up ideas include the hour long drives that I take when I get stressed out, or the ridiculous amount of money I spend on hairdye.
Assuming I go with my topic of eating meat and its effect on the environment, there are several things I will need to know. First, it might be a good idea to figure out how America's meat factories and slaughterhouses are run. Do they put out many pollutants? How many animals do they feed on an average basis? What kind of food do they feed their animals? Are the animals being fed chemicals and steroids in an effort to 'bulk them up'? Are these chemicals good for humans to ingest?
Then, it would probably be a good idea to figure out how much meat the average American consumes. I also think it would be important to figure out the environmental impact of these farm animals on the environment, too. I've seen many documentaries on how horribly the American slaughterhouses are being run, so I'm sure there's many resources available for me to use regarding how healthy these meat factories are for the environment. And most importantly, I hope to answer the question: Is it healthier for the environment for humans to be vegetarians, or meat-eaters?
As for ideas for my essay, I'm currently leaning towards the impact of eating meat on the environment. I am an animals rights activist, but have struggled with the idea of becoming vegetarian. Hopefully doing an essay on the effects of eating meat might be able to influence me a little more.
My back-up ideas include the hour long drives that I take when I get stressed out, or the ridiculous amount of money I spend on hairdye.
Assuming I go with my topic of eating meat and its effect on the environment, there are several things I will need to know. First, it might be a good idea to figure out how America's meat factories and slaughterhouses are run. Do they put out many pollutants? How many animals do they feed on an average basis? What kind of food do they feed their animals? Are the animals being fed chemicals and steroids in an effort to 'bulk them up'? Are these chemicals good for humans to ingest?
Then, it would probably be a good idea to figure out how much meat the average American consumes. I also think it would be important to figure out the environmental impact of these farm animals on the environment, too. I've seen many documentaries on how horribly the American slaughterhouses are being run, so I'm sure there's many resources available for me to use regarding how healthy these meat factories are for the environment. And most importantly, I hope to answer the question: Is it healthier for the environment for humans to be vegetarians, or meat-eaters?
Friday, August 31, 2012
One.
Hayley Smith
August 31st, 2012
Summer, 7pm
Fort Desoto State Park, Florida
The park ranger drives by and nods towards me, as he makes his daily evening rounds, locking down the campground trashcans in a continuing effort to keep away the raccoons. I think for a second what a wonderful job that would be- driving a golf cart around a heavily shaded campground located on the Tampa Bay. I'm slightly jealous that he gets to watch the sunset along the bay every night. Part of me realizes his job probably has downsides too. After all, summer tourists can be quite obnoxious- even I can admit this.
A rustling sound shivers up the palm tree behind me. At first I suspect the overly-friendly squirrel that has been relentlessly begging me for food the past week that I've been camping here. Alas, it's just another lizard. I don't mind, as I love all animals and have kept a variety of strange pets my entire life. From dogs and cats to rats and lizards, I will always be a lover of nature and animals.
While staring at this black spotted lizard, something else catches my attention. It's strange, yet entirely normal. An army of red fire ants, trotting up and down the tree trunk, as well as across the picnic table on which I sit, right down to the gravel road. I've never noticed a string of ants this large before. It's like a freeway filled with insects.
Then, an amusing thought pops into my head. I think of the brilliant, elaborate houses on the beach, and how people would actually spend millions of dollars just to be close to the water. Then I think of the nature that lives here, and has lived here, for hundreds of years. How silly that these ants and squirrels have their own free ocean-front property, and they don't even realize it. Do they even care? Does the squirrel ever just sit on his tree branch, and stare out into the vast body of water, recognizing it for it's beauty? Or is it too afraid of being gobbled up by a pelican to even come close to the water?
I think it's sad that I'll never know the answer to that question.
That idea makes me ponder things I do everyday. A few weeks ago, I was in the car with my boyfriend and pulled up to a red stoplight. After a few moments, I turned to him and said, "Why am I even stopped at this red light? Because society tells me to? Why don't I just run it?"
He responded, "Because the police will arrest you."
I suddenly blurted out, "Who gives the police the right to even apprehend me? The government? Who is the government? A bunch of people in stupid suits?!" My boyfriend stared at me as if I was joking, but I truly wasn't. That was the first instinctual thought I had.
To be fair, I've always had a Libertarian streak in me. When I was a teenager I used to get into arguments with the police when they would try to kick me out of the local public parks once nightfall hit.
"The public parks close at dark!" The cops would say.
"Nature doesn't close at dark! It's still here! The trees don't put up 'Sorry, We're Closed' signs, do they? No! Nature never closes!" I would respond.
For the longest time, I thought there must be something wrong with me for going against the grain so often. However, when I read things like, "Living Like Weasels," it makes me feel as if maybe I'm not so different after all. There is someone out there who questions society as much as I do. It was a comforting read, to say the least.
August 31st, 2012
Summer, 7pm
Fort Desoto State Park, Florida
Essay 1
I am sitting at an aging picnic table at Fort Desoto State Park, in the historic town of Fort Desoto, located in the warm, humid state of Florida.The park ranger drives by and nods towards me, as he makes his daily evening rounds, locking down the campground trashcans in a continuing effort to keep away the raccoons. I think for a second what a wonderful job that would be- driving a golf cart around a heavily shaded campground located on the Tampa Bay. I'm slightly jealous that he gets to watch the sunset along the bay every night. Part of me realizes his job probably has downsides too. After all, summer tourists can be quite obnoxious- even I can admit this.
A rustling sound shivers up the palm tree behind me. At first I suspect the overly-friendly squirrel that has been relentlessly begging me for food the past week that I've been camping here. Alas, it's just another lizard. I don't mind, as I love all animals and have kept a variety of strange pets my entire life. From dogs and cats to rats and lizards, I will always be a lover of nature and animals.
While staring at this black spotted lizard, something else catches my attention. It's strange, yet entirely normal. An army of red fire ants, trotting up and down the tree trunk, as well as across the picnic table on which I sit, right down to the gravel road. I've never noticed a string of ants this large before. It's like a freeway filled with insects.
Then, an amusing thought pops into my head. I think of the brilliant, elaborate houses on the beach, and how people would actually spend millions of dollars just to be close to the water. Then I think of the nature that lives here, and has lived here, for hundreds of years. How silly that these ants and squirrels have their own free ocean-front property, and they don't even realize it. Do they even care? Does the squirrel ever just sit on his tree branch, and stare out into the vast body of water, recognizing it for it's beauty? Or is it too afraid of being gobbled up by a pelican to even come close to the water?
I think it's sad that I'll never know the answer to that question.
Class Discussion
If I had to discuss something with the class, I would wonder if they ever had questions they wish they could ask animals or wildlife. I know I do, all the time.
My response to "Living Like Weasels"
I believe "Living Like Weasels" is about the effect society has on shaping who we are. It's almost a phenomena that an entire world has such a uniform idea on how to "act human." Humans are taught by society to ignore their natural instincts, while any other type of wildlife would never go against their instincts. That idea makes me ponder things I do everyday. A few weeks ago, I was in the car with my boyfriend and pulled up to a red stoplight. After a few moments, I turned to him and said, "Why am I even stopped at this red light? Because society tells me to? Why don't I just run it?"
He responded, "Because the police will arrest you."
I suddenly blurted out, "Who gives the police the right to even apprehend me? The government? Who is the government? A bunch of people in stupid suits?!" My boyfriend stared at me as if I was joking, but I truly wasn't. That was the first instinctual thought I had.
To be fair, I've always had a Libertarian streak in me. When I was a teenager I used to get into arguments with the police when they would try to kick me out of the local public parks once nightfall hit.
"The public parks close at dark!" The cops would say.
"Nature doesn't close at dark! It's still here! The trees don't put up 'Sorry, We're Closed' signs, do they? No! Nature never closes!" I would respond.
For the longest time, I thought there must be something wrong with me for going against the grain so often. However, when I read things like, "Living Like Weasels," it makes me feel as if maybe I'm not so different after all. There is someone out there who questions society as much as I do. It was a comforting read, to say the least.
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