Federal Funding For Needle Exchange No Longer Banned
This article details information about what a needle
exchange is, recent news about needle exchange legislation
and bans in the United States, and an analysis of the effectiveness
of needle exchanges in preventing the spread of blood-borne
diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B.
What Does A Needle Exchange Do?
Needle exchange programs in the United States offer many
services beyond the most basic of a needle exchange: providing
a safe licensed clinic for individuals abusing substances
to exchange used needles and syringes for clean sterilized needles
and syringes without police or legal intervention.
Needle Exchange In The News
Congress voted today to lift the
federal ban on needle exchange programs in order to support
programs in the fight against HIV/AIDs.
Traditionally states and local communities were required to fund
these programs.
Needle exchange has been a conflict between lawmakers promoting
a zero-tolerance view on drug use and drug abuse and people arguing
that needle exchange programs reduce the spread of HIV/AIDs.
Bill McColl of the advocacy group "AIDS Action" says "It
doesn't increase substance abuse. You know, this is a real
opportunity to do some serious outreach to a population that is
often overlooked." For him and others, the change represents
a step towards science, disease prevention, and social justice.
"The end of the federal ban on funding does not guarantee
additional money for needle exchange programs, but AIDS activists
say it's a symbolic achievement that will, at the very least,
reinforce an old message that clean needles save lives," writes
Susan Sharon of NPR.
Do Needle Exchanges Work?
There is no question that needle exchange
programs are effective, educational, and practical. Many
needle exchange programs offer services beyond sterile needle
exchange such as HIV and Hepatitis C testing, alcohol pads and
swabs to prevent and clean infection, bleach and sterile water, and
male and female condoms.
In a recent survey of 126 needle exchange programs in the United
States, all programs offered clean needle exchange, 77% of programs
offered substance abuse therapy, 72% offered HIV testing and
medical counseling, and more than 66% offered other supplies like
alcohol swabs and condoms.
According to the United States Center for Disease Control
and Prevention, 1 out of every 5 HIV infections is caused by
sharing needles. Almost all Hepatitis B infections are a
result of sharing needles, and about 20% of all HIV carriers have
Hepatitis B.
Needle exchange programs offer substance abusers
- Encouragement to use safe, sterile needles to prevent the
spread of blood-borne disease
- Enable them to learn if they are infected with a blood-borne
disease, encouraging them to never share needles and thus
contribute to the prevention of disease
- Offer non-judgmental medical advice from a professional about
their health in a safe place.
If the goal is to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis B,
having the net effect of putting our population at less risk,
needle exchange programs simply work.
Resources:
- United States. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
December 2005. "Syringe Exchange Programs".North American Syringe
Exchange Network. 2000. "2000 National Syringe Exchange Survey."
Harm Reduction Coalition.
- Des Jarlais, Don C., Courtney McKnight, and Judith Milliken.
2004. "Public Funding of US Syringe Exchange Programs. Journal of
Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
81:118-121
- United States. National Institute of Health. 2002. Consensus
development conference statement on the management of Hepatitis C.
Conference held June 10-12, 2002.
- United States. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
December 2005. "Syringe Exchange Programs".
- United States. National Institute of Health. 2002. Consensus
development conference statement on the management of Hepatitis C.
Conference held June 10-12, 2002.
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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121511681
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