Assessing The Need For Prison Based Needle Exchange Programs In Canada

This paper analyses current trends in prison drug use, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and HCV in prisoner populations and other information relevant to assessing the need for prison-based needle exchange programs in Canada. The first part presents background information on (1) the role of injection drug use (IDU) in the HIV and HCV epidemics, (2) prevalence of substance users and levels of substance use in Canadian prisons, (3) levels and patterns of injection drug use and needle sharing in Canadian prisons, (4) the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C infections among Canadian prisoners, (5) evidence of cases of disease transfer from sharing needles in prisons, and (6) existing harm reduction policies and programs in provincial and federal correctional systems in Canada. The next section reviews international experience with prison-based needle exchange programs, emphasizing evaluations of their effects on behaviour and their effectiveness in reducing harms among prisoners who use drugs by injection. The third part provides a review of the legal/constitutional and moral/ethical rationales for providing sterile needles to prisoners and a brief summary of the previous calls for piloting prison-based needle exchange programs in Canada. The last part discusses several possible courses of action available to the Canadian government as it considers its options on prison-based needle exchange programs.

As part of its work, The Expert Committee on Aids in Prisons (ECAP) prepared this Final Report in which it addresses issues that HIV/AIDS & drug use raise in federal correctional institutions & contains recommendations. Analyses issues, such as testing, housing & activities, educational programs preventive measures for inmates, protective measures for staff, health care, women inmates, etc.

The United States has spent two productive decades implementing a variety of prevention programs. While these efforts have slowed the rate of infection, challenges remain. The United States must refocus its efforts to contain the spread of HIV and AIDS in a way that would prevent as many new HIV infections as possible. No Time to Lose presents the Institute of Medicine's framework for a national prevention strategy.

This edited volume provides the first ever comprehensive, international and multi-disciplinary review of the evidence regarding substance use and harms in people who cycle through prisons and jails. Grounded in solid evidence and a human rights framework, the text provides a roadmap for evidence-based reform

This book reports on research on and experience with needle exchange and bleach distribution programs and their effects on rates of drug use, the behavior of injection drug users, and the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases among injection drug users. It discusses U.S. needle exchange data, international evaluations of needle exchange programs, legal issues and drug paraphernalia laws, evaluation methods, and bleach distribution programs.