Why We’re Doing This

California Injection Drug Users: A State of Emergency

Needle exchange has been one of the greatest success stories in HIV prevention and in drug policy reform on the state level. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control concluded that the incidence of HIV among injection drug users has decreased by 80% in the US in large part due to needle exchange programs.

Twenty-one years ago, one of the country’s first needle exchange programs started in San Francisco, and despite initial political and moral opposition, this one program now exchanges more than 2,000,000 syringes annually. Until this summer, there were 40 other programs in the state, and efforts were continuing to gain support to reach those in areas with no access, in which rates of HIV and hepatitis C are among the highest nationwide.

Needle exchange proven to reduce the spread of HIV and HepC

Scientists agree that needle exchange programs help reduce the spread of HIV without increasing drug use.[1] And these programs do a great deal more than just distribute syringes—they link a highly vulnerable population with medical and social services. In fact, 76% of program participants surveyed in California received their medical and preventive services exclusively through needle exchange programs.[2] Needle exchange is also an excellent bridge to drug treatment, as studies show that participants are more likely to access drug treatment than injectors outside of these programs.[3]

The Governor slashed all state funding for HIV prevention

When the California legislature could not agree on a budget, we all knew there would be cuts to HIV prevention and services, including to those Needle Exchange Programs that received state funding through the Office of AIDS. We didn’t anticipate that Governor Schwarzenegger would veto all the provisional budgets and cut 100% of state HIV prevention dollars! The only remaining prevention funding is from the Centers for Disease Control, and since the ban on the use of federal money for needle exchange has not yet been lifted, needle exchange programs are ineligible to receive funds.

Needle exchange programs in California lost 50-90% of their funding

The funding represented by the cuts was in the range of 50-90% of the already-low program budgets. At least four programs in northern California immediately ceased doing needle exchange. Remaining programs have had to cut staff, sites, hours, and supplies. Numbers have dropped across the board: people served, syringes disposed of and supplied, drug treatment referrals made, safer sex supplies dispensed. Budget cuts have also caused a dramatic decrease in the number of peer educators working directly with injection drug users most disconnected from service providers. This has caused decreases in the number of people tested for HIV/ HCV, number of people trained in overdose prevention and intervention, and number of people receiving emergency wound care and other medical services. People are trying to redirect clients to other services, but everyone is in the same boat.

Act now to prevent a public health crisis

Other numbers will rise across the board unless we act now—number of people who contract HIV, number of people with hepatitis C, number of overdose fatalities, and number of syringes improperly discarded. We are asking for immediate donations for a California Emergency Supply Fund to purchase harm reduction supplies to avert a new public health crisis in California.

Donate to the California Emergency Supply Fund

Donations to California Emergency Supply Fund are the perfect gift for any occasion! Donate today in someone’s name and give her or him the power to help save lives. Your entire tax-deductible donations of $1000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25 will go only to supply costs and shipping. Or consider donating specific amounts for specific materials. For gift ideas, see list below:

Syringe Exchange Supply List

Syringes: Case of 1600 = $152.00
Alcohol Pads: Case of 8000 = $88.00
Cottons: 1lb/90,000 pellets = $135.00
Cookers: Case of 1000 = $35.50
Tourniquets: Case of 1000 = $125.00
Sterile Water: Case of 1000 = $100.00
Antibiotic Ointment: Box of 144 = $22.00
Sharps Containers: Case of 8 Gallons (10) = $121.00
Personal Hygiene Kits: Case of 100 = $75.00
Wound Care Kits: Case of 50 = $92.50
Condoms: Case of 1000 = $55-120.00

These supplies represent the bare minimum that a needle exchange needs to distribute in order to help reduce the spread of HIV, vial hepatitis and to prevent or treat injection-related infections. All of the equipment used to inject drugs, like cottons and cookers, if shared, can potentially transmit blood borne pathogens, along with dangerous bacteria that can cause infections. Additionally, basic hygiene supplies, alcohol pads and antibiotic ointment can be used to reduce the likelihood of infection or keep existing infections clean. Sharps containers are a necessity for safely collecting used syringes and are also distributed to needle exchange participants so they can safely carry or store sharps.

Thank you! With community love and support we can get through this crisis!

To donate online go to: https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/HRC/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2374&t=DefaultTemplate.dwt

Donations can also be mailed to:

California Emergency Supply Fund
Harm Reduction Coalition
1440 Broadway, Suite 510
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: 510-444-6969

Please indicate the check is for CESF (California Emergency Supply Fund). Your contribution is tax-deductible.

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[1] List of federal research reports led then-Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala to state in 1998: “A meticulous scientific review has now proven that needle exchange programs can reduce the transmission of HIV and save lives without losing ground in the battle against illegal drugs.” http://www.harmreduction.org/article.php?id=473

[2] Bluthenthal, R. Syringe Exchange Program Diversity and Correlates of HIV Risk: Preliminary results from the California Syringe Exchange Program Study. Presentation to the California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, April 22, 2003. Sacramento, CA.

[3] Rebutting Calvin Fay on H.R. 179 (Word document download)

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