Implementation of Harm Reduction Syringe Services Programs at 2 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS Pub Date : 2025-07-01 Epub Date: 2025-07-19 DOI:10.12788/fp.0598

Michael Burkett, Jessica Litke, Annette Percy, Katherine Plank, Korin Richardson, Matthew Kirkland

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Abstract

Background: Syringe services programs (SSPs) aim to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens, tissue infections, and overdose among people who use drugs (PWUD). This article describes the implementation of SSPs at 2 US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers.

Observations: SSPs can increase access to sterile equipment, promote safe disposal, reduce health care costs, and improve patient access to care. Despite these developments, SSPs remain limited. Established SSPs at the Alaska VA Healthcare System and VA Southern Oregon Healthcare System have allowed for quality harm reduction services to be provided to PWUD.

Conclusions: The newly established SSPs help clinicians provide high-quality care to PWUD. Implementation of SSPs at VA facilities (where permitted by local law) may improve patient care and reduce negative consequences associated with injection drug use.

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在2个退伍军人医疗中心实施减少伤害注射器服务项目。

背景：注射器服务计划（ssp）的目的是防止血源性病原体的传播，组织感染，和过量的人使用药物（PWUD）。本文描述了两家美国退伍军人事务部（VA）医疗中心实施的ssp。观察：ssp可以增加获得无菌设备的机会，促进安全处置，降低医疗保健成本，并改善患者获得护理的机会。尽管有这些发展，特殊战略计划仍然有限。在阿拉斯加VA医疗保健系统和VA南俄勒冈医疗保健系统建立的ssp允许向PWUD提供高质量的减少伤害服务。结论：新建立的ssp有助于临床医生为PWUD提供高质量的护理。在退伍军人管理局设施（在当地法律允许的情况下）实施ssp可以改善患者护理并减少与注射药物使用相关的负面后果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS

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