05-09 STATEMENT OF POLICY

Syringe Services Programs

Policy The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) supports a comprehensive, evidence- based approach to syringe services programs, also known as syringe or needle exchange programs, in order to support the health of people who inject drugs and to curb transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other blood- borne diseases. NACCHO urges state and local policy makers to do the following:

• Support syringe services program development and operation in accordance with the peer-reviewed evidence base, best practices, and local health department and other expert recommendations;

• Remove legal barriers to accessing and safely disposing sterile needles, syringes, and other injecting equipment;

• Modify state and local statutes to permit over-the-counter pharmacy sales and purchase of syringes; • Revise paraphernalia laws to decriminalize syringe possession; • Increase the availability of drug treatment and overdose prevention, including Medication-Assisted

Treatment and naloxone training and distribution; • Ensure education of law enforcement, criminal justice personnel, health department staff, healthcare

providers, pharmacists, and other relevant professional and community partners regarding the benefit of syringe services programs, as well as other harm reduction strategies, and relevant laws, policies, and processes; and

• Assure adequate resources to support health department surveillance, program planning, and program evaluation capacity to assess disease and risk behavior trends and the impact of syringe services programs, as well as other disease prevention and health promotion interventions for persons who inject drugs, on local health outcomes.

Furthermore, NACCHO urges Congress to remove the ban on the use of federal funds to support syringe services programs. Justification Injection drug use is a major route of transmission for HIV, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne pathogens. Over the past 25 years, syringe services programs have proven to be highly effective at reducing HIV transmission among people who inject drugs and are an essential strategy to prevent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In addition to providing sterile syringes and other injecting equipment, many syringe service programs also provide medical and social services, including HIV and viral hepatitis testing, overdose prevention training, referrals to social services and housing, and linkages to medical care, mental health care, and substance use treatment, to individuals who are not often served by traditional healthcare providers.1Develop a proposed policy statement regarding genetic testing. This proposed policy statement must present an objective summary of the situation and justifications. Proposals should be concise, accurately and effectively use references to justify the call for defined action. The recommended format for proposed policy statements is relatively simple, and should facilitate clear and succinct expression. I have attached an example for your review. The proposal should not be more than 2 pages (double spaced), references not included.