Harm reduction policy related to drug use: the needles exchange programs

Abstract

In several developed countries, needles exchange programs (NEPs) are a key preventive tool in harm reduction policy related to drug use. Many studies about NEP show it reduces HIV infections related to syringes sharing when part of others preventive actions. NEPs seem to have no impact on HCV transmission. Furthermore, young drug users, who are at high risk for HIV and HCV infections, are not attending NEPs very often. Trying to maintain high accessibility to sterile syringes, efforts must be stressed on hard-to-reach populations such as young injection drug users (IDU), focusing on their social network. Emphasis must also be put on prevention of unsafe sexual intercourse, often related to syringe sharing, which must be more prevented. Finally, design of assessment studies should be improved.