Syringe exchange programs reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis, as they help to remove contaminated needles from circulation. In addition, the syringe programs provide education and offer counseling for users who seek help. However, many argue that syringe exchange programs promote drug abuse and raise crime rates, but that is not true. In Duluth, Minnesota attempts to begin an exchange program met opposition due to these fears, but later when it opened in a new location, there were no issues. Duluth police report that the exchange did not draw any crime and Duluth City Council President Linda Krug said, “perceptions of the center have changed…” Krug also included, “Like other communities, heroin is an issue here, and I think we're talking
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Studies conducted on the first syringe exchange program, which began in Tacoma, Washington in 1988, found that there was a more than 60 percent reduction in the risk for users contracting hepatitis B or C after the program’s inception. In addition, in another study during the 1990’s, which took place in New York and involved 1,600 drug users, researchers found that users who did not participate in a needle exchange program were three times more susceptible to contracting HIV/AIDS than participants who did participate (Healthcare Triage, …show more content…
On top of this, both the United Nations and the World Health Organization conducted systematic reviews that examined programs in places outside of the United States, such as Australia and Canada and their findings found the same results. Furthermore, the American Medical Association, the 2015 National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States, and the 2012 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Blueprint, all endorse syringe exchange programs. However, congress prohibited funding for needle exchanges with exception for a few years, and this held until 2016. Since then, the law did grant approval to allow federal funds to support needle exchange programs, but the programs cannot use the funding to purchase paraphernalia or injection equipment. Additionally, although there is now, allowances for the programs, most states and local governments limit or prohibit them. As of now there are only thirty-three states that allow the programs and there only an estimated 200 of them (Healthcare Triage, 2016). Although this is an improvement from none, there is still a need for greater improvements, as these programs could save far more
Studies conducted on the first syringe exchange program, which began in Tacoma, Washington in 1988, found that there was a more than 60 percent reduction in the risk for users contracting hepatitis B or C after the program’s inception. In addition, in another study during the 1990’s, which took place in New York and involved 1,600 drug users, researchers found that users who did not participate in a needle exchange program were three times more susceptible to contracting HIV/AIDS than participants who did participate (Healthcare Triage, …show more content…
On top of this, both the United Nations and the World Health Organization conducted systematic reviews that examined programs in places outside of the United States, such as Australia and Canada and their findings found the same results. Furthermore, the American Medical Association, the 2015 National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States, and the 2012 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Blueprint, all endorse syringe exchange programs. However, congress prohibited funding for needle exchanges with exception for a few years, and this held until 2016. Since then, the law did grant approval to allow federal funds to support needle exchange programs, but the programs cannot use the funding to purchase paraphernalia or injection equipment. Additionally, although there is now, allowances for the programs, most states and local governments limit or prohibit them. As of now there are only thirty-three states that allow the programs and there only an estimated 200 of them (Healthcare Triage, 2016). Although this is an improvement from none, there is still a need for greater improvements, as these programs could save far more