Overview

The transmission of HIV among injecting drug users and related populations of sex workers, youth and other vulnerable people is greatly adding to the burden of disease in countries worldwide. Evidence from 20 years of research shows that needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) prevent, control and ultimately reduce prevalence of HIV and other blood-borne infections among injecting drug users. These programmes are now operating in more than 60 countries in all regions of the world; yet it is estimated that less than 2% of injecting drug users are able to access sterile needles and syringes through NSPs.