Clean Needles Provided to Reduce Disease in Drug Users

Syracuse-based AIDS Community Resources says its needle-exchange program, which uses a van to visit areas where drug users are known to congregate, has provided syringes for 90 people a week since January.

A $320,000 grant from the state Department of Health funds the program in response to what DOH sees as a health threat in Onondaga County. The DOH’s AIDS Institute estimates that NEPs have cut the rate of new HIV infections by 50 percent to 75 percent. ACR called a news conference on May 29 in Syracuse to promote the outreach.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!