US Health Care Policy 1

US Health Care Policy

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US Health Care Policy 2

Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs) will not encourage IV drug use, and it will not lead

to an increase in the number of HIV inspections. SEPs allow current drug users to inject

themselves using clean needles. This would result in a reduction in HIV levels. Moreover, drug

users will still exist even if such policies do not exist, and they would be exposed to HIV. It is

imperative to implement a policy that ensures drug users have access to needles.

Pharmacists had health institutions should provide syringes at a lower cost or free to

make sure that individuals do not expose themselves to HIV by sharing needs. According to data

from the CDC, sing-use syringes will minimize the rates of infections (Kennedy and Jarlais,

2013). New HIV infections have been on the decline since the SEP policy was introduced in a

number of states in the US, especially among drug users. This is a strategy that reduces harm

and is an effective social policy that would protect a large number of individuals in the society.

The SEP program has also emerged as a gateway to other medical services. Once the

drug user visits a hospital, they can be encouraged to be screened for tuberculosis and hepatitis.

These individual will also provide information about risk reduction and health maintenance to

other drug users who have not been covered by the program. Primarily, SEP has emerged as an

integral part of HIV prevention strategies (Kennedy and Jarlais, 2013).

In conclusion, I do not agree that SEPs would encourage IV drug use and that it would

lead to an increase in HIV infections. The policy has proven effective in reducing the rates of

HIV where it has been applied. Moreover, it allows drug users to access medical services and

screening which is beneficial in ensuring that they are treated for assisted in the case where they

have certain conditions that can be spread by needles such as HIV or hepatitis.
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References

Kennedy, G., Des Jarlais, D. (2013). Effectiveness of structural-level needle/syringe programs to

reduce HCV and HIV infection among people who inject drugs: A systematic review. AIDS &

Behavior, 17(9), 2878-2892.