Do syringe exchange programs help people to stop using drugs?
Syringe exchange programs are an excellent bridge to drug treatment. • A national study found that 92% of syringe exchange programs refer participants to addiction treatment services. • Participants in a Seattle syringe exchange program were five times more likely to enroll in a drug treatment program than drug injectors outside the program. • The Baltimore syringe exchange program reserves 400 slots in drug treatment facilities. It has enrolled 2,300 people in drug treatment programs. An independent evaluation found that participation in the program was associated with entry into drug treatment programs.
