Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Do Needle Exchange Programs Cause More Harm To Injection Drug Users And Compromise The Safety Of The Communities In Which They Are In Place?, Amber L. Payne

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) are put in place in regions in the US, where illegal injectable drug use is prevalent, in order to decrease the amount of blood borne diseases by at least 10%, such as Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), being spread throughout the drug-using community. People and Healthcare Professionals in these communities have questioned if NEPs have caused more harm to the drug users and if they have compromised public safety due to incorrect disposal of syringes.

During a study in 2011, the spread of blood borne diseases in areas where NEPs were present, decreased among …

Effects Of The Needle Exchange Program Implemented In West Virginia, Amber Graves, Anthony B. Uriarte, Katherine Duty

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: West Virginia has had a recent spike in infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis due to increased rates of injectable drug use. The rising costs associated with such diseases have been a cause for concern in the sector of healthcare and public health. In the state, the exchanging of dirty needles has resulted in the spread of bloodborne pathogens, however, the implementation of needle exchange programs has sought to decrease the rates of infection, improve health outcomes, and lower healthcare costs. However, there is a question as to the effectiveness of such programs.

Purpose of Study: …

From Crib To Bench: Understanding Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (Nows) Using A Novel Rodent Model, Sarah Stevens

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

As the opioid epidemic continues to grow, opioid use among pregnant women is increasing significantly. This has led to a steady rise in the number of infants born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Although short-term withdrawal symptoms associated with NOWS are well characterized, there are many gaps in our understanding of the short and long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure. In CHAPTER 1, we describe the clinical presentation, associated neurodevelopmental challenges, and current treatments of NOWS. Our current understanding of the neuropathology of NOWS is limited, and therefore further research is needed. However, current animal models are limited by …

Characterization Of Cardiovascular Function In Adult Offspring Following Prenatal Exposure To Methamphetamine, Hasitha Chavva

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Methamphetamine (meth) is a synthetic stimulant, and its abuse is a significant public health concern in the United States and all over the world. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug, and its abuse is widespread among women of child-bearing age. The consequences of methamphetamine abuse are not only of relevance to pregnant women, but also their unborn children, as amphetamine type substances can cross the placental barrier and effect the fetus during gestation. Most previous studies investigating the impact of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on the offspring have focused on neurological and behavioral effects. The goal of this study was to …