Syringe services programs and real-world research: An overview for pharmacists

Abstract

Objective: To review key arguments supporting and criticizing syringe services programs (SSPs).

Data sources: Peer-reviewed literature and publicly available documents.

Summary: Pharmacy organizations-including the American Pharmacists Association and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-have stated that pharmacists should support programs that supply sterile injection materials to persons who use injection drugs. SSPs may include needle exchanges or other programs that meet these aims. Pharmacists should know that observational public health research demonstrates that SSPs can lower the transmission of blood-borne illnesses, improve linkage to care for substance use disorders, reduce health care expenditures, and reduce drug overdoses. Concerns about SSPs and increases in syringe litter or crime have not been borne out by research. Despite these findings and the positions of professional organizations, contemporary research suggests that pharmacists may be reluctant to support SSPs and other programs that would increase supply of sterile injection supplies to their communities.

Conclusion: The review of evidence in this commentary should help pharmacists better understand the evidence in favor of SSPs, the potential criticisms of SSPs, and the reasons that their profession is moving to support these programs.