Harm Reduction Issues
Syringe
Access
There are many reasons a person might inject drugs. It is possible to completely avoid or reduce injection-related health risks if someone has a sterile syringe and proper equipment for every injection.
Syringe service programs (SSPs) distribute sterile syringes, safer drug use supplies, and education to people who inject drugs. These harm reduction programs are proven to reduce HIV and HCV infection rates by about 50%.
Why Syringe Service Programs
What does syringe access look like in your community? Learn more about the benefits of SSPs and where they are across the country.
Syringe service programs work – but you don’t have to take our word for it. We rely on the Centers for Disease Control for the most up to date information about the efficacy of SSPs.
Need sterile syringes? The North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN) has a nationwide directory of SSPs.
Get sterile syringes to people who need them
There are over 400 SSPs in the U.S, but many areas still don’t have access. Starting a syringe service program is one way to support the health of people in your community who use drugs.
Find more guidance on how to start a harm reduction program.
Advocating for syringe access?
Access to sterile syringes has increased significantly in recent years, but the journey isn’t over. See how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go.