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The ubiquitous opioid epidemic has become a serious issue for public health in not only the United States but globally as well. Sharing needles has given diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C the ability to become rife among the growing population of drug users. Without an effective treatment or vaccine, we can only control this virus by reducing the risk of it spreading through preventative measures such as Needle Exchange Programs.

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Needle Exchange Programs, also knowns as NEPs, main function is to replace drug users’ tainted needles with new, sterile ones. Needle exchange programs were first introduced in 1984 by the Netherlands. This idea was shortly approved and supported by the Municipal Health Department of Amsterdam leading to expansion of these programs which began popping up in many different countries including the United States and Canada. The effectiveness is proven in the results thus far. Studies show a 70 percent decrease in new HIV cases and a total of 120 HIV averted in two years when the D.C Department of Health initiated these programs.

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One of the concerns about NEPs is the funding. Many people do not want to spend the money to help fund Needle Exchange Programs. However, the most common concern is that these programs promote drug use more than anything else. Many arguments about needle and syringe exchange programs are that they allow addicts to get high more often and introduce non IDUs to needles and syringes. Despite initiation of a needle exchange program in 1984, no change in the number of injection drug users was reported, and the average age of drug users increased over time. Furthermore, the number of drug users under age 22 decreased from 14 percent in 1983 to 3 percent in 1988.

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Needle Exchanges Help Curb Disease, but Legislators Don't Like Them

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You can directly support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr If you can afford to pay a little every month, it really helps us to continue producing great content. For decades, public health experts have known that syringe exchange programs reduce the spread of certain viral infections - like H.I.V.,hepatitis B and hepatitis C - by removing infected needles from circulation.

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As there are advantages to Needle Exchange Programs, there are also disadvantages too. The main problem associated with NEPs are the scarcity of facilities that participate, especially in rural areas. For instance, 11 states do not have any exchange programs at all and 9 states only have one throughout the entire state. Essentially, the scarcity of NEPs make it almost impossible for drug users to access them for their own health. One of the reasons these programs may be scarce is the fact that Congress prohibited federal funding on NEPs until 2016. Although that ban has now been lifted, Congress still refuses to allow federal dollars fund the buying the needles for these programs themselves.

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Despite the challenges and perceptions on Needle Exchange Programs, this harm reduction model has proven to be effective in reducing the amount of infectious diseases spread through needles and syringes amongst IV drug users. These programs can open doors for individuals seeking treatment, giving them someone/someplace to trust which can ultimately decrease crime rates in theft of needles or syringes. Implementing needle exchange programs globally will allow individuals to have a lesser chance of contracting HIV and/or Hepatitis B and C during this opioid epidemic. Needle Exchange Programs will impact public health significantly and it is only a matter of time until they are adopted globally.