Best Practices and Harm Reduction Needle Exchange Program of Asheville (NEPA) Michael Harney Prevention Educator Western North Carolina AIDS Project

Syringe Exchange Programs Stigma-free access to syringes, clean injection supplies, HIV/HCV testing, prevention education, healthcare and treatment information at little/no cost. Missoula, MT SEP

Syringe exchange is endorsed by amFAR Federal Funding for Syringe Exchange

The Dave Purchase Memorial 2014 National Survey of Syringe Exchange Programs: Summary of Results.

Safer Injection Supplies Provided by SEPs in 2012 & 2013 Year of Operation The Dave Purchase Memorial 2014 National Survey of Syringe Exchange Programs: Summary of Results.

HIV and Hepatitis C Related On-site Services Provided by SEPs The Dave Purchase Memorial 2014 National Survey of Syringe Exchange Programs: Summary of Results.

Problems SEPs Encountered in 2012 & 2013 The Dave Purchase Memorial 2014 National Survey of Syringe Exchange Programs: Summary of Results.

Rates of Persons Living with an HIV Diagnosis, by County, 2012 Note. Data include persons with a diagnosis of HIV infection, regardless of the stage of disease at diagnosis, and have been statistically adjusted to account for reporting delays and missing risk-factor information, but not for incomplete reporting. Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. * Data are not shown to protect privacy. ** State health department requested not to release data. Rates of Persons Living with an HIV Diagnosis, by County, 2012

amFAR Issue Brief April

NEPA Needle Exchange Program of Asheville Started In 1994

Marty Prairie, Oglala Lakota Sioux, began the Needle Exchange Program of Asheville in He fought for a better life for people with AIDS, gay men of color, drug users, children in poverty and Native Americans everywhere. In 2001, he lost his own struggle with AIDS, but is lovingly remembered by his family and friends. Marty Lynn Prairie January 15, 1958 – March 15, 2001 “Needle exchange saves lives. We do not promote drug use…All we want to do is make sure that they have a clean needle all the time and not share.”

Opinion Piece by Michael Harney Mountain Xpress, July 3rd 2012 “With continued support and collaboration … we can continue to be the model of harm reduction that has existed here in Asheville for almost two decades.”

Supplies include: Syringes (shorts and longs), Cotton, Tourniquets, Band- Aids, Alcohol swabs, Cookers, other harm reduction supplies NEPA Distribution Today 30,000+ syringes per month 35 – 60+ people per day

NEPA participants can return used syringes and equipment to NEPA for safe disposal. At right, 20 feet of returned, used syringes and needles that were safely disposed of through NEPA. Safe Disposal

Educational Materials

Current Data from ongoing NEPA Survey Before NEPA, every respondent was using a syringe multiple times.

Current Data from ongoing NEPA Survey After NEPA, 76.5% began using syringes only once.

Statute Prohibits delivery of drug paraphernalia,(syringes etc.) knowing that it will be used to inject a controlled substance into the body. NC Paraphernalia Act

Federal Funding Ban

568 postcards to 78 US Legislators 16 States and DC Advocating for Lifting the Federal Funding Ban on SEPs

For Additional Information