Number of U.S.
needle-exchange program is declining

The number of needle-exchange programs that aim to prevent HIV and hepatitis infections among injection drug users is declining across the country, according to a study in the July 15 edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's publication "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report." Researchers found that the number of needle-exchange programs in the country decreased from 154 in 2000 to 148 in 2002. The number of states and U.S. territories with needle exchanges declined from 35 to 32 during that time. Public funding for needle-exchange programs also fell 18% from 2000 to 2002. However, the number of used syringes exchanged for clean needles rose from 22.6 million in 2000 to 24.9 million in 2002, according to the survey.