needle exchange programs

..To evaluate the effectiveness of a needle social marketing strategy to reduce needle sharing and hepatitis C Virus (HCV)/HIV transmission among injecting drug users (IDU) in China...

..Creating and sustaining these linkages may facilitate entry into drug abuse treatment and serve the important public health goal of increasing the number of drug users in treatment...

..Syringe exchange increased greatly during this period, from 250,000 to 3,000,000 syringes exchanged annually...

....

..b>Needle exchange programs (NEPs), syringe prescription, and syringe deregulation are 3 approaches to increasing access to sterile ..

..30, 0.11-0.82, p=0.02) after adjustment for relevant sociodemographic and drug-use characteristics. These findings could help inform discussions about the merits of such facilities...

..To analyze the cost-effectiveness of New York State-approved syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and estimate the cost-saving potential of these programs...

..Further investigative and preventive work is required...

..HCV/HIV co-infection is common and models of service delivery that effectively meet IDUs' needs are required. A HCV strategic plan has stressed integration...

..programs for injection drug users (IDUs) simultaneously include access to sterile syringes through needle exchange programs (NEPs), legal pharmacy sales and, since 1996, vending machines that mechanically exchange new syringes ..

....

..Initiated in 1985, the ACS enables us to study changes in trends since HAART became widespread in 1996...

..We examined whether North America's first SIF was attracting IDUs who were at greatest risk of overdose and blood-borne disease infection...

..SEPs associated with less likelihood of syringe re-use and receptive syringe sharing? (3) Among non-SEP users, is residing in an area with pharmacy access associated with lower likelihood of syringe re-use and receptive syringe sharing?..

..Distribution of cards advertising the clinic was substantially less effective than word of mouth in increasing community awareness of the clinic...

..These data suggest that improved syringe disposal options, continuing education programs, and clarification of existing laws and regulations would encourage more pharmacists in Denver to sell syringes to IDUs...

..4 times the HIV incidence, a pattern seen over the entire study period. The simultaneous decline of both HCV and HIV incidence probably results from reduced risk behavior at the population level...

..Laws and policies that increase legal syringe availability can decrease injection related transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases...

..22, 2003. Although similar facilities exist in a number of European cities and in Sydney, Australia, no standardized evaluations of their impact have been presented in the scientific literature...

..In Australia in 1997, HIV prevalence among attendees at Needle Exchange Programs was 1% while HCV prevalence was 50%...

..We studied the effect of local approval of syringe exchange programs in California (through Assembly AB136) on program availability and performance...

..The 1990-2001 time period included a very large expansion of syringe exchange in New York City, from 250,000 to 3,000,000 syringes exchanged annually...

..Legalizing and rapidly implementing sterile syringe distribution programs are critical for reducing parenterally transmitted HIV, HBV, and HCV among IDUs...

..To determine whether syringe exchange program use is associated with cessation of syringe sharing among high-risk injection drug users...

..This study emphasizes that the facility enables contact with the healthcare system and thereby helps to facilitate the management of injection-related infections...

..Monitoring to determine regular reach (those who are in regular contact with harm reduction services) should be added to uniform data collection carried out by harm reduction programs. Advocacy is crucial to achieving high coverage...

Our purpose was to assess whether participation in needle exchange programs (NEPs) influenced incident hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection through effects on injection risk behaviors among young injection drug users (IDUs) in the United ..

..It is estimated that in 1997 there were approximately 110 needle exchange programs (NEPs) in North America...

..Structural changes, including policy reform and pharmacy outreach, appear to increase syringe access. Interventions should address pharmacy policies and pharmacist attitudes and policies...

..More detailed information on disposal practices is needed to capture the continuum from least to most safe practices and variation within individuals...

..We used an ecological study design to compare changes over time in HIV seroprevalence in injecting drug users worldwide, for cities with and without NEPs...

..Further research is needed to identify facilitators and barriers to adopting SB1159, to identify areas for improving technical assistance to implementers, and to assess the public health impact of the legislation...

..Use of distribution beyond fixed sites will improve such outreach, thereby increasing program effectiveness and further preventing the transmission of blood-borne infections...

..Examine the challenges of four service delivery models (i.e., fixed, mobile, satellite and home visits) and how service delivery may impact on NEP HIV prevention efforts...

..This study sought to assess the acceptability of SIF and to determine factors associated with willingness of injecting drug users (IDU) to use SIF in a city considering their establishment...

..To describe point prevalence of HCV antibody and relevant risk behaviour among people who inject drugs and who attended selected needle and syringe programs throughout Australia in 1995, 1996 and 1997...

..We conclude that anti-HCV prevalence is lower than in previous studies of older IDUs, but 11% incidence implies high risk of HCV infection in a long injecting career. Despite access to sterile needles, borrowing of needles persisted...

..Behavioral surveillance methods have the potential to measure intervention impact through comparative analysis in certain settings...

..These results suggest that setting up an MSIC does not necessarily lead to an increase in drug-related problems of crime and public loitering...

..To track the effect of the French harm reduction programme targeted at intravenous drug users (IDUs) and associated health outcomes...

..Within this context, this article describes the qualitative data describing the decline of cocaine injecting and the corresponding emergence of crack use in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and related HIV risks...

..the debate surrounding the distribution of sterile syringes to injection drug users (IDUs) has focused on needle exchange programs (NEPs), IDUs acquire their syringes from three major sources: NEPs, pharmacies, and secondary exchangers ..

..It is concluded that SEPs that base syringe dispensation policy upon need may facilitate reductions in reuse of syringes...

..To assess associations between needle exchange program (NEP) use and drug injection risk practices...

..To demonstrate that a syringe exchange program can reduce syringe re-use, to encourage HCV screening by injection drug users (IDUs), and to provide a new harm reduction tool through the pharmacy network...

..Knowledge about these changes helps build harm reduction activities oriented to IDUs in their particular social context...

....

..These data suggest the need for a more active program involving pharmacists, an expanded syringe access program, and better efforts to enhance safe disposal...

b>Needle exchange programs (NEPs) play a critical role in reducing the spread of HIV in injection drug users (IDUs). However, many IDUs do not access NEPs and rely on needle sellers...

..Testing of STRs represents a promising approach to examining and accessing complex behavioral data, including syringe sharing...

....

..Implications for future interventions are discussed...

..As 40% of the IDUs reported using NEP, it appears that needle exchange provides an opportunity to reach high-risk populations and prevent sexual transmission of blood-borne pathogens...

....

..We examined use of recommended preventive services by clients of 23 SEPs throughout California...

..IDUs remember when they first became aware of AIDS and began to adjust their behaviors and social assumptions...

..Secondary exchange facilitated HIV risk reduction but the salutary effects of NEPs were attenuated in mixed/secondary exchangers...

..This article underscores the relevance of syringe deregulation and its relevance as an ethical and political issue for social workers...

....

..Participation in a syringe exchange program was associated with reductions in receptive syringe sharing and syringe-mediated sharing, but not the sharing of cookers...

....

..This study confirms previous findings that SEPs can play a significant role in the prevention of HIV in marginal and impoverished communities in the United States...

..Sometimes zealous drug law enforcement undermines harm reduction. A more balanced approach to drug law enforcement is required with illicit drug use recognized primarily as a health and social problem...

..To investigate the impact of harm-reduction programmes on HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence among ever-injecting drug users (DU) from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS)...

..We examine the extent to which each of these variables is related independently to this behaviour within a diverse study population...

..The study examines risk behaviours of the users of syringe dispensing machines (SDMs) and evaluates the usefulness of these machines in providing injecting drug users (IDUs) with sterile injecting equipment...

..01) and drug (p < 0.03) risk. After PTSD/depression adjustment, CSA was no longer associated with sexual or drug risk. These results suggest that women IDUs' CSA-to-risk path is mediated by PTSD/depression...

..825; 95% CI, 1.392- 16.721). This suggests that the intervention was effective in delivering SEP services to homeless young adult IDUs, and that IDUs who frequented the intervention site had a lower HIV risk than comparison group IDUs...

..Interventions should stress the importance of using sterile material for each injection, even with a steady sex partner...

..To investigate the incidence rates of HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among injection drug users (IDU) in a drug trafficking city in southwest China...

....

....

..Behavioral surveys were administered; serum samples were collected for HIV testing. Subjects were categorized into new injectors (injecting < or = 3 years) and long-term injectors (injecting > 3 years)...

..01). Since distributing safer crack-smoking materials by a NEP contributes to transition to safer methods of drug ingestion and significantly reduces disease-related risk practices, other NEPs should adopt this practice...

..08, 95% CI 1.1-3.88). This project demonstrates that HIV risks exist in rural Iran and suggests the innovative use of Iran's rural health care system to extend prevention and treatment services to these populations...

..To identify factors associated with using sterile drug injection equipment by injection drug users (IDUs)...

..With their support, rapid scale-up to effectively reach a majority of drug users can be achieved in the coming years...

..To assess variation in injection risk behavior among unstably housed/homeless injecting drug users (IDUs) across programs in a national sample of US syringe exchange programs...

..To examine whether needle exchange program (NEP) use by injecting drug users (IDUs) affects injection risk behaviors over time...

..To assess the impact on injecting drug use and risk behaviour of the withdrawal of methadone injecting equipment from government-funded needle and syringe programs...

..The findings also suggest that other forms of syringe-exchange programs should consider the benefits of offering fixed site nighttime service...

..2; 95% confidence interval = 0.1-0.4). Increased similarity in age between new and longer-term IDUs may have contributed to the rapid spread of HCV infection by facilitating mixing patterns between HCV-infected and -susceptible IDUs...

..We note the role of policing practices in influencing risk reduction and the potential role of policing agencies in supporting HIV prevention initiatives among IDUs...

....

..Although the impact of SIFs in North America can only be quantified by scientific evaluation, these data indicate a high potential for immediate community and public health benefits if SIFs were presently available...

..This article reviews the literature on the impact of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV), and tuberculosis on minority drug injectors in the United States...

Harm reduction policies, such as needle exchange programs, injection centers, and substitution treatments, attempt to reduce the health and social damage associated with illegal drug use...

..To examine the prevalence and correlates for needle-sharing among new and long-term injection drug users (IDUs) in Sichuan province, China...

..Previously tried strategies include needle exchange programs and changing laws to allow the legal purchase and possession of syringes...

..Targeted prevention programs offering both needle exchange programs and opiate substitution therapies are urgently called for to prevent the further spread of HIV and HCV in ..

..We surveyed 42 needle exchange programs (NEPs) in the United States in July and August 1998 to determine the street prices of syringes...

Our objective was to examine factors associated with distributive injection equipment sharing and how needle exchange programs (NEPs) can help reduce distributive sharing among injection drug users (IDUs).

..The proposed study could inform appropriate geographic locations for expanding overdose prevention and needle exchange programs in Baltimore, as well as provide an in-depth understanding of the spatial distribution and related ..

..Location types include hospitals, neighborhood clinics, community centers, late-night street corners, needle exchange programs, outreach sites, and drug rehabilitation centers...

..diverse persons attending three types of venues in Los Angeles: Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics, Needle Exchange Programs, and Latino Community Health and HIV Prevention Clinics...

..have examined the likelihood that using a brief motivation based intervention with drug users enrolled in needle exchange programs may improve drug use outcomes...

..This work will be applied to ongoing needle exchange programs in Baltimore, for preventing HIV transmission...

..This work will be applied to ongoing needle exchange programs in Baltimore, for preventing HIV transmission...

..The proposed methods are developed for two broad aims, and are motivated by needle exchange programs in the US, HIV treatment administration in East Africa, and HIV vaccine efficacy trials...

..The proposed methods are developed for two broad aims, and are motivated by needle exchange programs in the US, HIV treatment administration in East Africa, and HIV vaccine efficacy trials...

..affect the availability of preventative actions, including condom availability and condom-use policies needle exchange programs, and increases in services for sexually transmitted infections...

..affect the availability of preventative actions, including condom availability and condom-use policies needle exchange programs, and increases in services for sexually transmitted infections...

..affect the availability of preventative actions, including condom availability and condom-use policies needle exchange programs, and increases in services for sexually transmitted infections...

..b>Needle exchange programs offer direct contact with drug users who have initiated HIV risk reduction...

..This study will advance understanding the genetic risk factors for breast cancer in women of African descent and will be invaluable in developing novel prevention strategies in the future. ..

..This study will advance understanding the genetic risk factors for breast cancer in women of African descent and will be invaluable in developing novel prevention strategies in the future. ..

..In addition to survey data, observer ratings of neighborhoods, police crime reports, and census data will be collected. Hierarchical Linear Modeling and Structural Equations Modeling will be used for data analysis. ..

..Stein's interest in translating this research to primary care and substance abuse treatment settings while mentoring new clinical investigators. ..

..PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal has high public relevance due to the low rates of HIV medication adherence found in many impoverished communities domestically and internationally. ..

b>Needle exchange programs were designed to provide injection drug users with ready access to sterile needles and syringes to reduce the frequency of sharing contaminated equipment and thereby lower the risk of transmitting HIV and other ..

....

..abstract_text> ..

....

Participation in needle exchange programs (NEPs) is associated with increased use of sterile syringes, reduction in high-risk drug injection behaviors, and lower incidence of HIV seroconversion...

....

..abstract_text> ..

..The focus of this study, the evaluation of combinations of medications, to treat substance-related disorders, fits squarely within the emphasis of this RFA. ..

..geographic location, and treatment program and racial disparities in treatment outcomes; (2) to determine if the patterns of disparities in treatment outcomes differ by gender and by race for African Americans, Latinos and Caucasians ..

..abstract_text> ..

..abstract_text> ..

..Given the significance of families in the AIDS epidemic, it is important to study as well as support families and patients to optimize care of those affected by HIV disease. ..

..The data will also used to examine associations between characteristics of sex partners and personal networks to describe sexual mixing patterns of this population. ..

..Urinalysis of gonorrhea and chlamydia at baseline and follow-up will be used as additional measures of sex risk. We will also assess potential diffusion of intervention effects to participants' social network members. ..