Santa Barbara County Report Examines Impact of Area Needle Exchange Program

A needle exchange program implemented by the California-based Pacific Pride Foundation has helped reduce the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne illnesses through injection drug use and also "helps get contaminated needles off the street, and assists clients with accessing HIV testing, substance abuse counseling, and other needed services," according to a county Public Health Department report, the Santa Barbara Daily Sound reports. The report also found that of those who used "The Right Outfit" needle exchange program, "100 percent were referred for substance abuse treatment and HIV testing, but only 6 percent were tested for HIV during the syringe exchange visit (many more were tested before or after the visit, the statistics show)," according to the Daily Sound (Frazier, 8/14).

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