Strengthening Syringe Services Programs (SSPs)

Key points

  • Strengthening SSPs is a cooperative agreement that aims to build and expand a national network of SSPs, implement and oversee the use of an annual survey of SSPs, and strengthen the implementation of SSPs in the United States.
Healthcare professional sitting in their van reviewing hepatitis SSPs data on their phone

Overview

Syringe Service Programs Explained

SSPs are community-based prevention programs. The purpose is to:

  • Increase access to harm reduction services for people who use or inject drugs or have a history of injecting drugs.
  • Reduce the incidence of infectious diseases and other complications of injection drug use.

These organizations provide a range of harm reduction services including:

  • Access to sterile syringes and disposal of used injection equipment.
  • Testing and vaccination for infectious diseases.
  • Linkage to treatment for infectious diseases.
  • Linkage to treatment for substance use disorder.

SSPs are associated with an estimated 50% reduction in HIV and hepatitis C incidence.

Nearly 30 years of research show that comprehensive SSPs are safe, effective, and cost-saving. They do not increase illegal drug use or crime, and they play an important role in reducing the transmission of viral hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other infections.

Read more about preventing viral hepatitis in people who use or inject drugs.

See Also: SSP Cooperative Agreement Information

Program goals

The goals of the cooperative agreement are:

  • Improved collaboration and communication among SSPs nationwide.
  • Enhanced data and information on prevention and treatment services for people who inject drugs (PWID) through SSPs.
  • Increased access to harm reduction services.
  • Decreased unsafe injection practices.
  • Decreased new infections of viral hepatitis and HIV, endocarditis, and other infections.
  • Decreased overdose rates and mortality.
  • Increased capacity for responding to outbreaks of infections associated with injection drug use.
  • Increased services available through SSPs in the United States.

How it's funded

Over the five years of the cooperative agreement, CDC expects to award approximately $10 million across the two program components, pending the availability of funds:

  • Component 1: Support a national network of SSPs and oversee implementation and use of an annual survey of SSPs.
  • Component 2: Support and strengthen implementation of SSPs.

Funded partners

Each of the funded SSP partners focuses on one of the two program components.

Component 1: Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International

RTI's focus populations include members of the SSP workforce (outreach workers, counselors, etc.), their local partner organizations, stakeholders, and PWID.

Working closely with their partner organizations and harm reduction leaders across the country — University of Washington, North American Syringe Exchange Network, and National Harm Reduction Coalition — RTI's team curates and maintains a list of communication mechanisms used to disseminate public health information among SSPs.

In addition, RTI's team oversees the implementation and use of an annual SSP survey. This survey identifies where to apply funding and resources that support:

  • Implementing safe syringe distribution and disposal.
  • Preventing infectious disease and infectious complications from injection drug use.
  • Offering testing and treatment.
  • Mitigating other harms due to drug use.

Read findings from the 2022 pilot survey: Program and Operational Characteristics of Syringe Services Programs in the United States, 2020 and 2021.

Component 2: National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)

NASTAD focus populations include:

  • Members of the SSP workforce (for example, health care professionals, outreach workers, counselors, administrators).
  • PWID.
  • Those in geographic areas experiencing disproportionately high rates of viral hepatitis and HIV.

NASTAD uses funding to expand the reach of SSPs and harm reduction services across the US. This allows SSPs to recruit and retain staff to perform core functions like:

  • Distributing and disposing sterile supplies.
  • Preventing and controlling infectious diseases.
  • Facilitating comprehensive social and medical service referrals including linkage to care and naloxone distribution.
  • Expanding viral hepatitis testing and vaccination.
  • Offering other substance use services.

Ultimately, NASTAD aims to prevent infectious consequences of injection drug use and overdose.

Resources

Explore these resources for more information on SSPs and harm reduction services for PWID:

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Content Source:
Division of Viral Hepatitis