D.C. needle exchange program prevented 120 new cases of HIV in 2 years

http://ekaweb02.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/gwum-dne082715.php

Public Release: 3-Sep-2015
D.C. needle exchange program prevented 120 new cases of HIV in 2 years
George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health

The District of Columbia's needle exchange program prevented 120 new cases of HIV infection and saved an estimated $44 million over just a two-year period, according to a first-of-a-kind study published today by researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University.

"Our study adds to the evidence that needle exchange programs not only work but are cost-effective investments in the battle against HIV," says Monica S. Ruiz, PhD, MPH, an assistant research professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at Milken Institute SPH. "We saw a 70 percent drop in newly diagnosed HIV cases in just two years. At the same time, this program saved the District millions of dollars that would have been spent for treatment had those 120 persons been infected."

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