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US
Surgeon
General's
Latest
Research
Review
Supports
Needle
Exchange
Programs
6/23/00
Surgeon General David Satcher
and the Department of Health and Human Services have completed a review
of all peer-reviewed, scientific studies of needle exchange programs completed
since April 1988. Their primary conclusion follows:
"The senior scientists of
the Department and I [the Surgeon General] have unanimously agreed that
there is conclusive scientific evidence that syringe exchange programs,
as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy, are an effective public
health intervention that reduces transmission of HIV and does not encourage
the illegal use of drugs." (The report is available at http://www.harmreduction.org/surgreview.html.)
Completed in response to
a request by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the report, also addresses numerous
issues within the needle exchange debate. The findings, as summarized
by the American Foundation for Aids Research, only strengthen the case
for needle exchange as a key tool in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS:
-
Syringe exchange programs (SEPs)
consistently attract persons with highest risk profiles for HIV infection
and severe drug use and are successful in referring clients into detoxification
and substance abuse treatment programs.
-
SEP-referred clients have similar
rates of retention in substance abuse treatment as individuals from standard
referral sources, despite severe baseline drug use and high-risk lifestyles.
-
Clients participating in SEPs
have decreased reuse of contaminated syringes and reduced sharing of injection
equipment.
-
The data indicate that the presence
of a syringe exchange program does not increase the use of illegal drugs
among participants, and in many cases, a decrease in injection frequency
has been observed among those attending these programs.
-
Provision of sterile injection
equipment through SEPs and pharmacy access is cost-effective; one HIV infection
can be prevented for one-third the cost of medical care for an infected
person.
-
The scientific evidence accumulated
to date provides a basis on which municipalities that are heavily affected
by an HIV epidemic driven by injection drug use should consider syringe
exchange programs as a tool for the identification, referral, and retention
of active users of injection drugs into these services, as part of a comprehensive
HIV prevention plan.
In related news, the American
Medical Association has taken the position that physicians should be allowed
to prescribe sterile syringes to persons addicted to injection drug use.
The platform was approved by delegates at the recent AMA convention.
Visit http://www.harmreduction.org/surgeon1.html
to see AMFAR's summary of the review in its entirety.
Visit http://www.dogwoodcenter.org/survivors/survivehome.html
for personal stories of people affected by injection-related AIDS and the
absence of needle exchange.
-- END --
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Issue #142, 6/23/00
Senate Passes Colombia Military Assistance, Marginal Differences With House Version Head to Conference Committee, What Next? | Cops and Drugs: Police Departments Tolerating Past Drug Use by Job Applicants | Canadian Marijuana Party Forms: "Look Out Ottawa, Here We Come!" | Australia: In Victoria, Drug Reform Comes Painfully Slow, Injection Room Bill Faces Tough Battle | Delaware Mandatory Minimum Sunset Bill | Lies, Damn Lies and the Drug Abuse Warning Network Statistics | US Surgeon General's Latest Research Review Supports Needle Exchange Programs | AlertS: Free Speech, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Washington State | HEA Campaign | Event Calendar | Editorial: Cops, Drug Use, Symbolism
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