title: Integrating health and prevention services in syringe access programs: a strategy to address unmet needs in a high-risk population.
abstract: Injection drug users are at a high risk for a number of preventable diseases and complications of drug use. This article describes the implementation of a nurse-led health promotion and disease prevention program in New Jersey's syringe access programs. Initially designed to target women as part of a strategy to decrease missed opportunities for perinatal HIV prevention, the program expanded by integrating existing programs and funding streams available through the state health department. The program now offers health and prevention services to both men and women, with 3,488 client visits in 2011. These services extend the reach of state health department programs, such as adult vaccination and hepatitis and tuberculosis screening, which clients would have had to seek out at multiple venues. The integration of prevention, treatment, and health promotion services in syringe access programs reaches a vulnerable and underserved population who otherwise may receive only urgent and episodic care.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Nursing, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center, Newark, NJ.
authors.forename: Carolyn K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Nursing, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center, Newark, NJ.
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Storm
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Nursing, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center, Newark, NJ.
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, Trenton, NJ.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, Trenton, NJ.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berezny
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Nursing, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center, Newark, NJ.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allread
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, Trenton, NJ.
authors.forename: Sindy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000379:methods*; D009515:New Jersey; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000379:methods; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult