Needle Exchange Programs: An Evaluation

As a result of strict syringe and drug paraphernalia laws, when surveyed, many addicts have said that “anyone who uses needles shares needles.”⁶ But, it was also found that, “Sharing needles is situational,” so if NEP/SEPs were operating, they would encourage and make possible the one-time-use of sterile syringes and discourage the practice of needle sharing.⁶ Studies found that needle sharing can be attributed to public policies which limit access to needles; because needles are illegal, IDUs are reluctant to carry their paraphernalia at all times, which leads to increased incentive to share due to the “urgency” felt by users when they need a hit.⁶

Through studies done on the subculture of intravenous drug users (IDUs) and their behaviors, it has been concluded that NEPs are an effective solution to stop the spread of AIDS. Because intravenous drug use has been “implicated” in the elevated HIV/AIDS infection rates among men and women in New Jersey (7), a study was done to evaluate the behaviors of IDUs in Paterson, a city nearby Newark. It was concluded that “long-term adherence to safe needle and sexual practices” is needed to change the current trend of HIV infection. Because female IDUs did not base their sexual practices upon their perceptions about their likelihood to contract HIV and overall subjects of the study knew that their behaviors were risky, it will be more effective to address the availability of needles than educational prevention; many IDUs already know how to prevent infection, however, they do not change their behavior because of their powerful physical dependence on the drugs.⁷ A large percentage of the female subjects regularly engage in needle sharing and unprotected sex with their partners; they also acknowledge that they do not know with whom their partner shares on a day-to-day basis. Female IDUs often depend upon men for their drugs, and are therefore more likely to shoot up after their partner, which places them at increased risk for HIV infection.⁷  If paraphernalia laws were relaxed and there were more available sterile needles, the opportunity for infection would greatly decrease.