NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

Needle Exchange Programs

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Needle Exchange Programs

Introduction

Easy access to needles is a necessary condition for preventing transmission of HIV and HCV among drug users. The 1987 decree permitting the unrestricted sale of needles had a significant and immediate impact on needle sharing but other measures to improve access to needles appeared necessary: ??the marketing of prevention kits sold in pharmacies, implementation of automated needle dispensers, open exchange programs (NEP) in various forms (bus, shop, fixed local, street work). NEPs have in common specific objectives such as reducing the sharing or reuse of needles, reducing the number of abandoned needles in public places and the encouragement of safer sex practices within these populations. In addition to exchange and distribute needles, condoms and to offer prevention advice, stakeholders NEP can guide users to these care facilities and testing and help them establish their entitlement to social benefits. In France, the supply of needles remains primarily by the pharmacies. NEPs that provide about 10%, with distributors are the necessary complement to improve accessibility.

Discussion & Analyses

Studies conducted in France and other countries show the persistence of needle sharing practices. Moreover, the pooling of material preparation and reuse of filters can be potential carriers of HIV infection and hepatitis B and C. Prevention strategies focus therefore to change injection practices in the sense of a personal and unique all equipment. In 1995, a general framework was defined to evaluate the quality of accessibility to needles. It included a series of studies, and systematic data collection including a description of the activity and customer NEP presented here. Needle exchange (also known as needle from English. needle exchange) - the practice of free distribution of new needles (sometimes - other tools that are used for the introduction of the drug) used instead (California, 2003). Performed in a specially organized paragraphs, accompanied by the provision of information about maintaining health, about where you can take an HIV and hepatitis, meetings of groups of mutual aid and other measures designed to preserve the health of people taking drugs and slow the spread of infections transmitted through sharing needles (DeVillaer & Smye, 2004).

Many insist it points to exchange used needles for new, not to increase the range of drug users. The experience of the United States it is known that much of the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and C is the repeated use of needles (Normand, Vlahov & Moses, 2005). Many studies confirm the effectiveness of needle exchange in reducing that number. In addition to reducing the risk of transmission of such points of exchange can teach visitors the basics of evanescent behavior directed to pass tests in medical laboratories and clinics for the treatment of addiction, to gather statistics about the behavior and number of drug addicts. Exchange points may be separate, built-in facility (pharmacy, non-governmental organizations to combat AIDS) or mobile (inside a specially equipped bus.) Also, instead of the actual needle may be granted facilities for disinfection.

Traces of this practice were seen as early ...