Needle Exchange Program

Needle exchange program, also known as needle and syringe program (NSP) or syringe-exchange program (SEP) provides sterile hypodermic needles, syringes, and related paraphernalia to injecting drug users (IDUs). This social service believes that harm reduction is better than condemning IDUs. Through this advocacy, AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases which may be transmitted by using non-sterile needles may be significantly lessened. These programs also conduct information drives on safer injecting practices, avoiding and managing overdose, referrals to STD testing and treatment services, and other healthcare services. For instance, Australia, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, and the Netherlands use syringe vending machines which accept coins and tokens.