Today I woke up to a startling and sad article in the New York Times about the rise in heroin use in Maine and across New England. Last year, heroin killed at least 21 people in our state. It's a tragic public health problem, and one that will require a thoughtful, health-based solution.
One part of that solution must be to recognize the vital role syringe exchange programs can play in the health and wellbeing of Maine’s residents. Syringe exchange programs reduce the spread of disease through intravenous drug use, which is a serious concern - as of 2009, nearly a third of Maine women living with HIV reported injecting drugs. The programs also connect people to treatment, provide education on preventing overdose, help people find housing, and connect people to substance abuse treatment programs. According to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, the state’s five syringe exchanges provided more than 400 people with referrals to substance abuse treatment programs in 2012 alone.
Syringe exchange programs also improve public health by disposing of used syringes that may otherwise be left in parks and public spaces and protecting our law enforcement agents from accidental needle pricks.
Finally, as Maine faces serious budget cutbacks, syringe exchange programs save communities money - for every $1 invested in these programs, communities save $3 - $7 in HIV treatment costs alone – money that can be reinvested in making our communities safer and healthier.
Unfortunately, despite their very real benefits, communities are banned from spending federal funds earmarked for HIV programs on syringe exchange programs. Currently, Maine has only five syringe exchange programs serving the entire state, operating on incredible tight budgets. Making federal funding for syringe exchange available could help these programs to reach more Mainers with lifesaving services.
Senator Susan Collins, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, can help. She can take a leadership role by pushing her colleagues on the committee to end the ban on using federal funds for syringe exchange programs. This won't cost the federal government anything - it will simply mean that communities are free to use existing funds for HIV prevention in the ways that best serve their residents.
Please call Senator Collins today and ask her to stand up for the health of our communities. As Maine faces a rise in heroin use, ask her to help make us all safer by taking action to restore federal funding for syringe exchange programs.
July 19, 2013 - 2:09pm
