| 释义 |
needle exchange programmes needle exchange programmes An effective public health measure to reduce the prevalence of conditions such as AIDS and hepatitis B that are often spread among intravenous drug abusers by sharing needles. About half of new HIV infections are now caused by needle sharing. New sterile syringes and needles are supplied free of charge to discourage the practice. Many studies have shown that this is a valuable measure that does not encourage illegal drug usage but, up to early 1998, the USA, almost alone among developed countries, continued to ban it. |