Reuters Health Information (2005-07-14): US syringe exchange programs declining
US syringe exchange programs declining
Last Updated: 2005-07-14 15:49:24 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Some syringe exchange
programs in the US have ceased operations in recent years, and public
funding for exchange programs has declined, according to an article in
the July 15th issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Exchange programs help prevent transmission of HIV and other
bloodborne infections by increasing access to sterile syringes among
injection drug users (IDUs) and safely disposing of used syringes, lead
author Dr. C. A. McKnight, from New York's Beth Israel Medical Center,
and colleagues note. Exchange programs also offer social services, such
as provision of condoms, referrals for substance-abuse treatment, and
testing for HIV and viral hepatitis.
In 2003, Dr. McKnight's group conducted surveys among 148 exchange
programs known to the North American Syringe Exchange Network.
"In 2002, for the first time in 8 years, the number of exchange
programs, the number of localities with exchange programs, and the
amount of public funding for exchange programs in the United States
decreased," the authors report.
Specifically, the number of exchange programs declined from 154 to
148 between 2000 and 2002, primarily through loss of small programs,
while the number of states and territories with exchange programs fell
from 35 to 32. Public funding decreased 18%.
At the same time, the number of syringes exchanged increased 20.2% and total budgets increased 7.4%.
Such programs "provide health and social services to IDUs who might
not otherwise be reached," the authors conclude. "Continued monitoring
of exchange programs in the United States is necessary to evaluate the
long-term effects of this public health intervention."
Mor Mortal Wkly Rep CDC Surveill Summ 2005.