Syringe exchange is proven effective at reducing transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C, and in linking people who inject to drug treatment and other services.
The federal government recently lifted the ban on federal funding for syringe access programs.
But lack of political leadership, and state statutes are barriers to implementation of syringe exchange in many places including Florida.
Florida is a state with a large population, a large population of injection drug users, and high incidence of HIV and Hepatitis C.
For a great read about the barriers to establishing syringe exchange programs in Florida (and the same applies to many other states), see this well done article by Robin Williams Adams in The Ledger (a Lakeland, Florida newspaper) here.
Quotable:
“Science has shown these programs reduce HIV transmission and do not increase use of illegal drugs,” said Nikki Kay, a CDC spokeswoman.
“Chapter 893 of Florida statutes makes it unlawful to conduct a syringe exchange program,” said Susan Smith, press secretary for the Florida Department of Health. “We implement policies set forth by the Legislature.”
The law makes it a third-degree felony “to deliver, possess with intent to deliver, or manufacture with intent to deliver drug paraphernalia, knowing, or under circumstances where one reasonably should know” that it would be used to inject, ingest or inhale an illegal substance.
“When are we going to listen to the facts and act on them?” (Dave Purchase, North American Syringe Exchange Network) said. “People’s lives are at stake.”
Preventing syringe-exchange programs also increases the cost of HIV treatment, Purchase said.
The cost of treating HIV infection for a lifetime averages at least $300,000 per person, he said. Money saved by preventing infections could go to drug treatment and prevention.
“You need people in the health departments to stand up and say, ‘It’s the right thing to do,’ ” (Allan Clear, Harm Reduction Coalition) said. “It’s such a proven method.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a very controversial topic. I’m familiar with arguments for both sides, but one thing I think they could agree on is:
“Money saved by preventing infections could go to drug treatment and prevention.”
I agree the topic creates controversy in the sense of strong feelings. But there is no true controversy as to the science or the pragmatic effects in the real world. Syringe exchange is well studied and there are no down sides. Lots of really huge benefits though.
I understand that part of the controversy of feeling is about morality. I feel very strongly that it is immoral not to provide access to safer injection supplies –especially since the free will of people who are addicted is compromised, and we are not providing adequate access to effective drug treatment.
And even if people don’t care about people who inject (shame on them), then at least they should care about the non-injecting sexual partners of people who inject.
A good portion of heterosexual transmission of HIV takes place between people who inject and their non-injecting sexual partners. Most often this is a male injector infecting a female non-injector (because HIV is more easily passed sexually from male to female than female to male).
A sterile syringe or a condom costs pennies and can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs associated with a single HIV infection –not to mention the preventable human suffering.
To me, the morality clearly favors syringe access.
I say that after spending a lot of time learning and thinking about this issue. And I have almost 10 years of experience running a syringe exchange program.
I’ve seen the reality of syringe exchange, and I know that the fear and hype is unfounded.
Syringe exchange does incredible good, and results in no harm. It is not only as a place for people to access safer injections supplies (very important), but as a safe place for people who inject to gain access to medical care, drug treatment and other important services.
I hope that if people have concerns about syringe exchange, they will express them in a comment. I would like the chance to address their concerns.
I’ve had the experience of meeting with school officials, police chiefs, pubic health officials, business leaders and others in my community. And to a person, after people have a chance to have their concerns thoughtfully and respectfully addressed, they have supported syringe exchange not only in concept, but as a reality in their own community.