AEGiS-13IAC: Needle exchange programme (NEP) in the prison of Bilbao 2 experience years: 1997-1999.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Needle exchange programme (NEP) in the prison of Bilbao 2 experience years: 1997-1999.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. TuOrD322)

Menoyo C, Zulaica D, Parras F, Lopez Blanco JA, Badiola JA, Garrido JA, Fernandez De Larrinoa V
C. Menoyo, OSAKIDETZA-SVS., Avenida Navarra 4, 20013 San Sebastian, Spain, Tel.: +34 43 02 2711, Fax: +34 43 02 2761, E-mail: corsida_san@ej_gv.es

ISSUES: The distribution of sterile syringes, among the injecting drugs users (IDUs), as prevention measure of the HIV and other germs of sanguine transmission have been shown effective outside of the prisons. However, the introduction of this measure in the penitentiary area is very limited. The prison of Bilbao began a NEP in 1997.

DESCRIPTION: The NEP is developed through human resources observing the confidentiality of the users and permitting the possession of one syringe for internal. To acquire the first syringe, the prisoners request an anti-aids kit (syringe, tissue wipe soaked in alcohol and water for injection) to the execution equipment of the NEP. After this first acquisition, the rest of anti-aids kits are obtained exchanging the used syringe. External professionals to the prison integrate the execution equipment of the NEP, fundamentally. During 6 first months (times 0, 3 and 6 months), the evaluation of the project has been applied to the prisoners as well as to the personal official of the Penitentiary Centre. To 22 months of operation of the NEP, it has been accomplished a valuation by the executor equipment and by the medical equipment of the prison. 12.500 anti-aids kits have been distributed.

CONCLUSION: The experience of the prison of Bilbao demonstrates that the implementation of a NEP, it is marketable and adaptable to the conditions of penalty execution. The NEP has not increased the drugs consumption. The NEP in prison induces conductual changes of risk decrease associated with injected drugs used. The NEP in prison facilitates the users tapping to treatment programmes of the drug addiction permitting the link of the prisoners to community programmes extrapenitentiary.

Keywords: AEGIS, Needle-Exchange Programs, Prisons, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Syringes, Prisoners, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Substance-Related Disorders, Human
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