Syringe services programs (SSPs), sometimes known as “needle exchange,” are a longstanding, evidence-based practice that is a core component of harm reduction services. Syringe access in the United States began in 1988 in an effort to stop the spread of HIV among people who injected drugs. In October 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that the nation’s Overdose Prevention Strategy would include harm reduction as a central pillar. SSPs are a foundational harm reduction service and essential in decreasing the spread of communicable and infectious disease, increasing engagement of vulnerable people into care, and saving lives.
Categories:
Behavioral Health, Chronic Disease, Clinical Practice, Harm Reduction, Substance Use, Substance Use Disorder