ArticleThe International journal on drug policy2024
Updates on syringe coverage and service uptake among needle and syringe programs in the United States, 2019-2020.
Article in The International journal on drug policy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Assessing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic impacts on the health of people who inject drugs using a novel data sharing model.AIDS (London, England) · 2025Pooled it
- Exploring Sexually Transmitted and Bloodborne Infection Rates in Florida After Implementation of Syringe Services Programs: A Quasi-Experimental Study.AJPM focus · 2026Article
- Willingness to use a mobile syringe service program among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia.Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- Breaking barriers: evaluating access models for harm reduction vending machines.The International journal on drug policy · 2026Article
- HOME protocol for a national online survey of people who inject drugs.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- Utilization of Kentucky Syringe Service Programs in a Justice-Involved Sample of People Who Inject Drugs.Journal of drug issues · 2025Article
- Racialized environments and syringe services program implementation: County-level factors.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2024Article
- "If everyone knew about this, how many lives could we save?": Do drug suppliers have a role in reducing overdose risk?Drug and alcohol dependence reports · 2024Article
- Harm Reduction and Treatment Among People at High Risk of Overdose.JAMA network open · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAs injection drug use has increased in the US, so too has the prevalence of receptive syringe sharing. Since the 1980s, Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs) have been an important source of clean injection equipment and disposal of used syringes. This study reports national syringe coverage and examines the impact of program attributes on organizational-level service uptake, defined as number of syringes distributed per participant contact per year.
methodsIn 2019 and 2020, we administered an annual cross-sectional survey to NSPs operating in the US (n = 260). A national estimate of coverage was calculated by dividing the total number of syringes distributed by the 2019 and 2020 population estimate of people who inject drugs (PWID). Frequency distributions and percentages were calculated for categorical variables (e.g., funding, census region, distribution policy/modality), and median and interquartile ranges (IQR) were calculated for continuous variables (e.g., participant contacts, syringes distributed). Bivariate and multivariable mixed effects logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio associated with organizational characteristics on increasing service uptake at the NSP level.
resultsFrom 2019 to 2020, the total number of participant contacts by NSPs increased from 871,976 to 898,891, and the number of syringes distributed increased from 92,648,529 to 113,071,748. The national coverage estimate increased from 29.5 (95 % CI = 15.0, 58.2) to 35.8 (95 % CI = 18.2, 70.6) syringes per PWID. Fifty-eight percent of NSPs increased service uptake in 2020 as compared to the previous year. NSPs that received government funding and NSPs that changed to a less restrictive syringe distribution policy were more likely to increase service uptake (aOR 1.80, 95 % CI = 1.01, 3.22 and aOR 3.33, 95 % CI = 1.11, 9.94, respectively). Syringe distribution modalities also diversified, with more NSPs reaching participants via backpacking/outreach, fixed site pop-ups, mobile delivery, mail-based delivery, leaving supplies out, and secondary distribution.
conclusionBoth governmental investment in harm reduction programming and needs-based distribution of syringes increased service uptake and thus should be expanded and sustained to reduce harms associated with injection drug use.
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