New Jersey Desperately Needs More Syringe Access Programs:

Three out of Four Counties do not Have a Single Needle Exchange Program Despite Surge in Injection Drug Use

(Asbury Park – March 12, 2018) – Help Not Handcuffs, Inc. today released an info graphic showing that three out of four New Jersey Counties do not have access to a single syringe access program. Furthermore, 30% of the top ten cities with the most HIV/AIDS cases are in counties with no access to syringe access programs. This is despite the knowledge that 40% of all HIV/AIDS cases in New Jersey are caused by injection drug use, which has dramatically increased by 31% from 2010 – 2015.

Syringe Access Programs are proven to effectively prevent HIV/AIDS and other blood borne disease transmission while also linking people who are actively injecting drugs to health and social services. “New Jersey needs to make a significant investment in expanding the number of syringe access programs and also funding them adequately” said Randy Thompson, CEO of Help Not Handcuffs, Inc. “As Governor Murphy’s first Budget Address is approaching we hope that Syringe Access Programs and other harm reduction initiatives that save lives but are non-existent, are made a priority for funding” Thompson said.

The Info graphic is a project of Help Not Handcuffs, Inc. Graphic design was done by Anna Lisa Greene of Addiction without Apologies.

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