Key findings include:
- The opioid crisis is driving a sharp rise in infectious diseases linked to injection drug use.
- The number of reported acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) cases increased 3.5 times between 2010 and 2016.
- Most new HCV infections result from injection drug use.
- Each year, more than 2,500 new HIV infections are reported among people who inject drugs (PWID).
- Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) play a crucial role in lowering HIV and HCV infection rates and serve as an essential part of comprehensive, community-based prevention and intervention efforts. In addition to providing access to and safe disposal of syringes and injection equipment, these programs offer a range of services, including vaccinations, testing, connections to infectious disease care, and support for substance use treatment.
Aids in reducing the spread of infections carried through the blood
For individuals who inject drugs, the most effective way to minimize the risk of acquiring and spreading infections is to stop injecting altogether.
However, for those who continue to inject, using sterile injection equipment for each use can help lower the risk of infection and prevent disease outbreaks.
SSPs are linked to an estimated 50% decrease in HIV and HCV incidence.
When supplemented with medications for opioid dependence (commonly referred to as medication-assisted treatment), the transmission of HCV and HIV is reduced by more than two-thirds.
SSPs connect individuals to additional health services, such as HCV and HIV testing and treatment, as well as medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
Helps prevent substance use
Most SSPs provide referrals for medication-assisted treatment, and new participants in these programs are five times more likely to seek drug treatment and three times more likely to quit using drugs compared to those who do not engage with SSPs.
SSPs help prevent overdose deaths by educating people who inject drugs on overdose prevention, recognition, and response.
They offer training on using naloxone, a medication that reverses overdoses.
Many SSPs also distribute “overdose prevention kits” containing naloxone to those at risk.
Assists in maintaining public safety
SSPs have collaborated with law enforcement by supplying naloxone to local police departments, enabling them to respond effectively and prevent fatalities in overdose situations.
SSPs also help safeguard first responders and the public by offering secure needle disposal options, thereby minimizing the number of discarded needles in the community.
In 2015, the CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System discovered that in geographic areas where SSPs provided more syringes per person who injects drugs, individuals who inject drugs were more likely to safely dispose of used syringes.
Studies conducted in Baltimore and New York City have also found no variation in crime rates between areas with SSPs and those without.