Do studies in Montreal and Vancouver show that SEPs increase HIV rates?
Opponents of syringe exchange often cite older studies from Montreal and Vancouver showing higher rates of HIV among syringe exchange participants than non-participants. Both studies have been updated and conclude that syringe exchange participation was not associated with higher rates of HIV infection. What explains the confusion? In Vancouver at the time of the first study frequent participants in the syringe exchange program were at higher risk of contracting HIV than infrequent users of the service — they were younger, more likely to have poor housing situations, more likely to inject in risky settings, more likely to inject cocaine on a daily basis, more likely to be involved in prostitution, and more likely to have been incarcerated in the prior 6 months. It was impossible, therefore, to directly attribute their HIV status to one cause. A later study found that the syringe exchange program was indeed helping to reduce HIV infection.
