Reviews of the effectiveness of syringe and needle exchange programme have shown reductions in needle risk behaviours and HIV transmission and no evid

Reviews of the effectiveness of syringe and needle exchange programme have shown reductions
inReviews of the effectiveness of syringe and needle exchange programme have shown reductions
in needle risk behaviours and HIV transmission and no evidence of increase in injecting drug
use or other public health dangers in the communities served. Programmes have also been
shown to serve as points of contact between IDUs and service providers including treatment
programmes. The benefits of NSEP are increased if they include AIDS education, counselling and
referrals to treatment [32].
The following factors are important to consider when planning a NSEP:
Location (for example drop in centres, mobile vans, hospital wards, outreach sites.) The
NSEP should access the hidden populations of young injectors and the services should be
delivered as close as possible to where drug injectors live or hang out.
Hours of operation (projects should aim to ensure easy and free 24-hour access to sterile
injecting equipment).
“For me, preventing harm to myself means using new needles and never sharing spoons,
waters or swabs. But you can’t always be safe. Sometimes the chemist close early or there’s
nowhere to get new equipment late at night. Or it might be a public holidays and there’s
nowhere to get equipment [13].”
Staffing (remember the advantages for peers being involved).
The needle and syringe exchange is often a first contact point, from which information about
related services and activities can be offered to new clients.
Intercambios Civil Association is a programme in Argentina, located in Avallaneda, a poor district
in the south surroundings of Buenos Aires City. Outreach workers distribute clean needles,
condoms, and safer injection information to three communities with a high rate of injecting drug
use and poor access to preventive care or medical treatment. They also develop brochures and
stickers containing prevention messages, organize workshops and counselling. Work is based on and no evidence of increase in injecting drug
use or other public health dangers in the communities served. Programmes have also been
shown to serve as points of contact between IDUs and service providers including treatment
programmes. The benefits of NSEP are increased if they include AIDS education, counselling and
referrals to treatment [32].
The following factors are important to consider when planning a NSEP:
Location (for example drop in centres, mobile vans, hospital wards, outreach sites.) The
NSEP should access the hidden populations of young injectors and the services should be
delivered as close as possible to where drug injectors live or hang out.
Hours of operation (projects should aim to ensure easy and free 24-hour access to sterile
injecting equipment).
“For me, preventing harm to myself means using new needles and never sharing spoons,
waters or swabs. But you can’t always be safe. Sometimes the chemist close early or there’s
nowhere to get new equipment late at night. Or it might be a public holidays and there’s
nowhere to get equipment [13].”
Staffing (remember the advantages for peers being involved).
The needle and syringe exchange is often a first contact point, from which information about
related services and activities can be offered to new clients.
Intercambios Civil Association is a programme in Argentina, located in Avallaneda, a poor district
in the south surroundings of Buenos Aires City. Outreach workers distribute clean needles,
condoms, and safer injection information to three communities with a high rate of injecting drug
use and poor access to preventive care or medical treatment. They also develop brochures and
stickers containing prevention messages, organize workshops and counselling. Work is based on