Needle/syringe programs have resulted in enormous savings in both lives and dollars
Sixteen years after needle/syringe programs (NSPs) were first introduced in Australia, after a period of civil disobedience and amid intense controversy, the recent report Return on investment in needle and syringe programs in Australia1 has convincingly confirmed the effectiveness of NSPs in reducing HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among injecting drug users. The report also draws attention to the program's low cost and high cost-effectiveness.
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- 1. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Return on investment in needle and syringe programs in Australia. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing, 2002. Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/publicat/hac.htm (accessed Dec 2002).
- 2. Hepatitis C Virus Projections Working Group. Estimates and projections of the hepatitis C virus epidemic in Australia 2002. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of NSW, August 2002. Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/publicat/hac.htm (accessed Dec 2002).
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Acknowledgement: The National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.