Kools JP, Schmidt J, Engelhardt J; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeE6869.
Institution, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Twenty year ago, in 1984, the first ever needle exchange service started in Amsterdam. Drug policy activists initiated an experiment in exchanging syringes. Initial objective was to reduce the severe shortage of injection equipment in the inner city. Main reason for the exchange option was to decrease needle stick injuries and thus enable an supportive environment for injecting drug users (IDUs) and drug services. The pilot became a model for a vital HIV prevention tool. Over the last two decades Needle and Syringe Exhange Programs (NSEP) have become a widely accepted HIV prevention strategy and are implemented worldwide in various settings, from urban communities in Western metropolis to low resource urban settings in developing countries. Key results of the implementation of NSEP: serious reduction of transmission of infectious diseases (HBV, HCV and HIV). decrease of needle stick injuries. Key conclusions are: NSEP is a essential tool in enabling IDUs to protect their health. NSEP are an effective instrument in initiating sustainable behavioural changes in drug consumption patterns. NSEP has turned out to be a spearhead in introducing public health pragmatic strategies in local and national HIV and drug policies. NSEP can be an important factor in creating an enabling environment for demarginalisation of IDUs. In spite of these good results, there are numerous of obstacles in developement as well in implementation of NSEP. In regions with a developing HIV policy as well as in regions with a longer tradition of NSEP. Issues like legislation, nuisance reduction and even common prejudices often obstruct development and implementation of NSEP. Organisational issues like insufficient capacity and recources frequently hamper long term sustainability. Key conclusion is that NSEP require constant innovating and reinforcing attantion and support. Because they provide prevention materials and they are a consumer service and they are crowbar in HIV prevention and drug policies.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Communicable Disease Control
- Developing Countries
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Needles
- Substance-Related Disorders
- Syringes
- methods
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102284780
From Meeting Abstracts