Calls for Access to Safe Injecting Supplies as a Critical Public Health Measure During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

: More than 3 decades of research has provided compelling evidence regarding the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of needle and syringe programs in reducing syringe-sharing and transmission of HIV, HCV, and other bloodborne infections. However, repressive drug policies and drug law enforcement practices around the world continue to undermine their operations and scale-up, as well as access to harm reduction among people who inject drugs. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened access barriers to needle and syringe programs, raising concerns about unsafe injecting practices due to inadequate access to safe injecting supplies. This commentary discusses the robust public health responses that are needed at this particularly vulnerable and critical juncture to ensure access to safe injecting supplies and minimize the risk for transmission of bloodborne infections among people who inject drugs.