AEGiS-14IAC: The need for harm reduction in U.S. prisons: an activist's view.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

DonateNow
Print this article

The need for harm reduction in U.S. prisons: an activist's view.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. WeOrE1320)

Reynolds A
HIV and HCV in Prison Committee, San Francisco, CA, United States

ISSUES: The United States has the world's second largest prison system with over 2 million men and women incarcerated and an additional 4.3 million people in jail or on probation or parole. Although HIV and HCV rates are 8 to 10 times higher in prison than in the general public, there has been no effort to implement harm reduction programs into the U.S. prison system. Condom distribution occurs in only 2 state and 5 jail systems. There are no bleach distribution or syringe exchange programs in any jail or prison. Methadone maintenance programs are not readily available, nor are traditional drug treatment programs.

DESCRIPTION: This presentation will look at the punitive and abstinence-based policies of U.S. prisons and compare them to the harm reduction programs of European, Canadian, and Australian prisons. This presentation will be based on interviews with prisoners, a literature review, and personal experiences as a member of the HIV/HCV in Prison Committee of California Prison Focus.

ISSUES: High-risk activities for HIV and HCV transmission such as unprotected sex or needle sharing (both for injection drug use and tattooing) continue to occur in U.S. jails and prisons. It is widely accepted that community-based harm reduction measures such as syringe exchange or condom distribution are extremely effective in reducing HIV and HCV transmission. The international experience with harm reduction programs in prison show that these measures can be effective prevention measures.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The HIV/HCV in Prison Committee is committed to guarantee prisoners equal access to quality health care and prevention measures. We call on U.S. prisons to adopt harm reduction programs such as condom and dental dam distribution, methadone maintenance, and the provision of bleach kits. We urge all HIV and harm reduction activists to put the HIV prevention needs of prisoners on their agenda.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prisons, Health Services Needs and Demand, Needle Sharing, HIV Infections, Prisoners, United States, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Condoms, HIV Seropositivity, Canada, North America, California, Human, Female, MaleKWDaegis,prisons,healthservicesneedsanddemand,needlesharing,hivinfections,prisoners,unitedstates,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,condoms,hivseropositivity,canada,northamerica,california,human,female,male

020707
WeOrE1320

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.