Quantifying Syringe Exchange Program Operational Space in the District of Columbia.
Syringe exchange programs (SEPs) are effective structural interventions for HIV prevention among persons who inject drugs. In 2000, a buffer zone policy (the 1000 Foot Rule) was implemented in Washington, DC, that prohibited SEP operations within 1000 feet of schools. We examined changes in the amount of legal SEP operational space over time. We used data pertaining to school operations and their approximate physical property boundaries to quantify the impact of the 1000 Foot Rule on legal SEP operational space from its implementation in 2000-2013. Adherence to the 1000 Foot Rule reduced SEP operational space by more than 50 % annually since its implementation. These findings demonstrate the significant restrictions on the amount of legal SEP operational space in Washington, DC, that are imposed by the 1000 Foot Rule. Changing this policy could have a significant impact on SEP service delivery among injectors.
Department of Prevention & Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20052, USA. sallen63@jhu.edu.|Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Room E6534, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. sallen63@jhu.edu.
Sean T
ST
Allen
Department of Prevention & Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
Monica S
MS
Ruiz
Department of Health Policy & Management, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, PO Box 8015, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA.
Jeff
J
Jones
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D004219:District of Columbia; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005161:Facility Regulation and Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*
HIV; Health policy; Persons who inject drugs; Structural interventions; Syringe exchange programs