{"id":7222,"date":"2013-05-30T13:38:13","date_gmt":"2013-05-30T17:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/evetushnet\/?p=7222"},"modified":"2013-05-30T13:38:13","modified_gmt":"2013-05-30T17:38:13","slug":"a-new-york-needle-exchange-program-in-action-sarah-beller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/evetushnet\/2013\/05\/a-new-york-needle-exchange-program-in-action-sarah-beller.html","title":{"rendered":"“A New York Needle Exchange Program in Action”: Sarah Beller"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

at The Fix:<\/p>\n

Around 6 pm on a spring evening, I walk with Hector Mata through an area of northern Manhattan known as \u201cthe Zig-Zag,\u201d sculpted by the off-ramps of the George Washington Bridge. We pass a playground, go down through a woodsy area, slip through a hole in a fence, and step into a clearing next to a highway. We see cushions, blankets, a makeshift tent and a near-human-sized doll. A real woman is sitting against a stone wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Chris,\u201d says Mata. As she hears us approaching, she looks up, startled. \u201cIt\u2019s just me, Hector; you don\u2019t have to be scared,\u201d he calls out. She relaxes. A man pokes his head out of the tent. \u201cYou guys need needles?\u201d Mata asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Chris replies. She\u2019s a young white woman, her face badly burnt. Mata later explains that the burns are from the crack pipe getting too hot. Because ruptures in the skin are common, particularly on the lips, sharing paraphernalia can spread HIV and Hep C. He gives them clean needles, as well as cookers for crack, \u201cchore boys\u201d (copper wool used for smoking crack\u2014the cheap stuff from the store can release carcinogens), and stem tips (the pieces for the end of the pipe). \u201cDo you mind if\u2026?\u201d Chris asks, trailing off.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, we\u2019re in your space,\u201d Mata replies. Chris pulls a torn sweater over her head to form an expedient shelter, takes a hit of crack and walks away a little to exhale. The air takes on a sharp, plasticky smell.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

more<\/a> (read the whole thing\u2026)<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

at The Fix: Around 6 pm on a spring evening, I walk with Hector Mata through an area of northern Manhattan known as \u201cthe Zig-Zag,\u201d sculpted by the off-ramps of the George Washington Bridge. 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