Needle Exchange Research Papers

The needle exchange programs, a harm reduction process, were created to reduce the spread of bloodborne diseases, including HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Frequent drug users are a cost to society in health care, the spread of disease among people or offspring can be costly. The cost of health care to the patients, the supply and distribution of the needles and running the NEPs show great figures. The NEPs are funded by the state Department of Health. The limited quantity of needles causes people to share their contaminated needles. As a result, the programs are part of a controversial public health policy in which sterile needles are exchanged with used needles that could potentially be contaminated. Due to their controversy, a great amount of …show more content…
It soon became adopted by the Municipal Health Department of Amsterdam, the program had facilities in which free HIV testing and counseling were offered. The growth of the first programs gave developing countries insight in HIV reduction that affects its population. As of today, there are approximately 185 needle exchange programs nationwide. I will approach different studies about the programs and investigate any relevant correlation between the latter. Recent studies have shown the programs have reduced the spread HIV among communities. However, an HIV outbreak in Scott County, Indiana raised alarm, a total of 169 people were diagnosed with HIV in a period of 6 months. Governor Mike Pence issued an executive order on March 26, 2015 declaring a public health emergency. Ironically, needle exchange programs in Indiana were illegal before the outbreak. The HIV spread was allegedly caused by opioid and heroin users sharing needles. The state of Indiana only allowed syringes to be obtained by prescription and the supply was minimal therefore the drug users had to share syringes. In addition, this outbreak raised awareness of opioid prescriptions.