New Jersey Needs More Syringe Exchanges For Drug Users: Group

Three out of four New Jersey counties don’t have access to a single syringe access program. But 40% of all HIV/AIDS cases in the state are caused by injection drug use. And these are two statements that shouldn’t fit together in the same breath, according to a grassroots advocacy group.

On Monday, Help Not Handcuffs Inc. released a report that claims three out of four New Jersey counties don’t have access to a single syringe access program.

“Furthermore, 30% of the top ten cities with the most HIV/AIDS cases are in counties with no access to syringe access programs,” the group said. “This is despite the knowledge that 40% of all HIV/AIDS cases in New Jersey are caused by injection drug use, which has dramatically increased by 31% from 2010 to 2015.”

According to Help Not Handcuffs, “syringe access programs” are proven to effectively prevent HIV/AIDS and other blood borne disease transmission while also linking people who are actively injecting drugs to health and social services.

“New Jersey needs to make a significant investment in expanding the number of syringe access programs and also funding them adequately” CEO Randy Thompson said. “As Governor Murphy’s first budget address is approaching, we hope that syringe access programs and other harm reduction initiatives that save lives but are non-existent, are made a priority for funding.”

• See related article: The Addiction Industry: Scientist Says Opioid Treatment Needs To Change
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Needle exchange programs have faced a thorny past in New Jersey, where former Governor Chris Christie put the kibosh on state funding in 2016, leaving operators of the programs scrambling to come up with enough cash to sustain their efforts, NJ Spotlight reported.

A controversial needle exchange program in Paterson was temporarily shut down last year after local residents complained about syringes allegedly found in parks and other public areas.

According to the North American Syringe Exchange Network, there are exchange programs at the following sites in New Jersey:

• Prevention Resource Network - Asbury Park, NJ
• Syringe Access Program of Atlantic City - Atlantic City, NJ | South Jersey AIDS Alliance
• HARM Reduction Syringe Access Program - Camden, NJ | Camden AHEC
• Project X-Change Works - Jersey City, NJ | Hyacinth AIDS Foundation
• NJCRI - Newark, NJ | North Jersey AIDS Alliance Project Access
• Point of Hope - Paterson, NJ | Well of Hope Community Development Corporation, Inc.

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