Needle Exchange Programming
The Best Practice Recommendations for Needle Exchange Programs (NEPs) in Ontario:
A Think Tank on Dissemination, Implementation and Next Steps
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The Sleeping Giant:
A Day in the Life of a Needle Exchange Program
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The Document
This event launched the document The Best Practice Recommendations for Needle Exchange Programs in Ontario. The first of its kind in Canada, this document is a result of the efforts of community-based advocates and leading researchers who worked together to produce this important initiative. It synthesizes the Canadian and international literatures and provides concrete policy recommendations for the operational, controversial and practice challenges faced by NEPs today.
OHTN Involvement
Needle Exchange Programs are a cornerstone of HIV prevention for injection drug users (IDUs). With this leading-edge document, there is an opportunity to improve HIV prevention efforts and overall well-being for IDUs in Ontario. As part of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Strategic Plan to 2010 “Advancing HIV Policy and Practice Through a Network of Excellence”, the OHTN is focused on building community-academic-policy partnerships that will harness the expertise, energy and commitment necessary to make a difference while supporting knowledge transfer and exchange among its many stakeholders.
The Think Tank was organized by the OHTN in partnership with the Ontario Needle Exchange Coordinating Committee (part of the Ontario Needle Exchange Network).
Objectives
The main objectives of the Think Tank were to:
launch The Best Practice Recommendations for Needle Exchange Programs in Ontario document;
develop a strategy to ensure application of the recommendations;
offer networking and partnership building opportunities to further disseminate the recommendations;
identify necessary policy changes to further improve NEP practice;
identify a strategy for next steps in terms of research, advocacy and practice.
Sponsors
Support for the event was given by the Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Centre for Research on Inner City Health (St. Michael’s Hospital).