NCJ Number
130851
Date Published
1989
Length
13 pages
Annotation
In 1987, the British government launched several schemes to reduce the spread of HIV infection among injecting drug users in England and Scotland by making syringes and needles available to drug users and providing advice on drug use and safer sex.
Abstract
The syringe exchange schemes vary considerably in their operation. Some are linked to outpatient drug dependency clinics, while others are outside the National Health Service in drug advice and information agencies. Operating costs of the schemes are relatively low, and the basic system is that clients must show evidence of injecting drug use and an unwillingness or inability to stop injecting. Certain legal issues related to the schemes have already surfaced. One problem for staff and clients is that the possession of used syringes with drug traces can be used by the police in prosecutions for the illegal possession of drugs. While some schemes attract a large number of clients, others have failed to do so. A rural scheme, for example, has a scattered population of drug users who have sporadic injecting patterns associated with drug supply fluctuations. The schemes vary in the quality of relationships they establish with clients. In addition, staff have begun to rethink the character of their work with drug users. All schemes operate with a risk reduction philosophy and aim to help drug users change their injecting and sexual behavior to reduce the risk of HIV infection. In a few schemes, staff have developed a broader harm minimization approach that involves tackling other problems clients may face when injecting themselves. The schemes are identifying a wide range of client problems that are not being dealt with satisfactorily by other agencies, notably the lack of primary health care for many drug users. Both the general public and the police have cooperated with the schemes. 16 references