Needle exchange programs

Byrne, Andrew. Lessons from 20 Years of Addiction Treatment Look After Individuals and Public Health Improvements Follow. Journal of Addiction and Mental Health, vol. 7, Autumn 2003, p. 20. Drawing on his considerable experience, the author suggests that standardization of treatment is important in order to make programs widely available, but that treatment strategies must also be tailored to the individual. Harm reduction and public health-oriented measures have reduced overdose deaths in Switzerland and HIV transmission rates in Australia, but the United States has been slow to adopt needle exchange programs. 

This section covers advocacy for and implementation of various harm reduction strategies such as needle exchange programs. 

Even so, Congressional leaders decided to make the federal ban on needle exchange programs permanent. 

Up-to-date information on HIV prevention research and related topics, including needle exchange programs... 

Needle exchange programs are designed to reduce the spread of needle-borne diseases. 

Prevention of disease is under used.48 Needle exchange programs could prevent 17,000 AIDS infections in the United States each year. Vaccines are not used... 

The Drug PoUcy AUiance is involved in a variety of local, state, and national legislative and poUcy initiatives. For example, the organization has spearheaded a ballot measure in Oakland, California, to decriminalize marijuana, funded legal actions involving medical marijuana patients, and has helped cities adopt needle exchange programs. 

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