August 6, 2009

Minnesota’s Only Needle Exchange Program Closes Doors

After a decade of service, Access Works!—Minnesota’s sole needle exchange drop-in center—was forced to close its Minneapolis storefront doors on July 24 due to economic hardship and federal anti-drug policies, reports The Minnesota Independent. The organization plans to maintain its website and nonprofit status.

According to the article, Access Works! exchanged nearly 400,000 needles last year alone, in addition to administering HIV and hepatitis C tests, teaching overdose prevention, holding support groups and connecting intravenous drug users with chemical dependency treatment experts.

Since needle exchange programs began in the state, the number of people infected with HIV through needle use declined from 61 in 1992 to as low as 3 in 2005. There were 13 cases in 2008.

In 1988, Congress banned organizations from using federal funds for needle exchange programs. Instead, they must rely on private donors. Although the House recently passed a bill that lifts the ban, it still includes several restrictions that make it difficult for most needle exchange programs in urban areas to operate effectively.

“The federal ban has had a long-term impact,” says Lauri Wollner, executive director of Access Work! “We spend almost $40,000 a year on needles and about $5,000 a year on disposal [of used needles].”

Needle exchange advocates hope that a meeting between the Senate and House in September will lift the ban entirely.

Editors’ Note: We’ve investigated a user’s comment correcting the original story, and clean needles are still available in Minnesota drug stores as well as through the Minnesota AIDS Project. Thank you for your comments!

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Previous Comments:

Lorraine Teel, Minneapolis, 2009-08-11 10:55:43
Hi All -- Just want to correct the story -- there still remains an active and mobile needle exchange program in Minnesota run by the MN AIDS Project. Unfortunately the headline and the story incorrectly reported that all of Minnesota's needle exchange programs were closed -- Access Works was a storefront operation and sterile syringes can still be obtained both legally in drug stores as well as through the one-to-one exchange we operate. Contact the AIDSLine at (612) 373-2437 for info!