Policy Updates 

August 27, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

August 6, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

August 3, 2018 Are We Doing Enough to Prevent Another Scott County? Probably Not

July 30, 2018 Health Departments are key to eliminating hepatitis in the United States

July 27, 2018 New Study Shows Promising Support for Syringe Access and Disappointing Opposition to Medication Assisted Treatment

July 23, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

July 12, 2018 While No Cuts to HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Funding, FY2019 Labor-HHS Funding Bills Fall Short on Tackling Infectious Diseases Tied to Opioid Epidemic

July 2, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

June 29, 2018 Narrow Focus on Opioid Crisis Leads to More Law Enforcement & Lack of Funding

June 27, 2018 Congress Begins to Provide Additional Funding for Infectious Diseases Due to Opioid Epidemic  - Flat Funds Most HIV Programs; No Dedicated Increases for Hepatitis Programs

June 25, 2018 Statement from HIV, STD & Hepatitis Policy Partnership on Meeting with CDC Director Robert Redfield

June 25, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

June 18, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

June 15, 2018 In Passing Opioid Legislation, the House Opts for Quantity Over Quality

June 12, 2018 House Passes Bill to Combat Infectious Disease Consequences of Opioid Epidemic - Authorizes $40 Million Annually to CDC

June 11, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

June 4, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

May 25, 2018 As Congress Focuses on Opioids, Methamphetamine & Other Drugs Go Unaddressed

May 14, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

May 11, 2018 Instead of a Ryan White Act for Opioids, the House Nibbles Around The Edges

April 30, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

April 23, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

April 11, 2018 Congress isn't doing enough on opioid treatment, experts say

April 9, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

March 30, 2018 Despite Gains in HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Funding, Omnibus Bill Falls Short on Opioid Funding for Infectious Diseases

March 26, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

March 20, 2018 Nation’s Muted Response to Surging Opioid Crisis Puts Progress on Hepatitis, HIV, and STDs at Risk

March 19, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

March 13, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

February 28, 2018 House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee reviews eight opioid-related bills largely focused on the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Controlled Substances Act

February 27, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

February 27, 2018 U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Labor, and Pensions - Full Committee Hearing on The Opioid Crisis: The Role of Technology and Data in Preventing and Treating Addiction

February 12, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

February 5, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

February 1, 2018 Senate Democrats ask GAO to probe Trump's opioid response

January 29, 2018 Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

January 23, 2018 Opioid Funding Must Address Infectious Diseases: Leading national groups call for $100 million to fight hepatitis C, HIV

October 26, 2017 Americans Deserve Substantive Action on Opioid Epidemic

October 26, 2017 HHS Acting Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency to Address National Opioid Crisis

Policy Implementation

Under the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2016, federal law permits use of funds from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support syringe access - with the exception that funds may not be used to purchase syringes or cookers. In order to use federal funds for this purpose, health departments must first consult with CDC and provide evidence that their jurisdiction is experiencing or at risk for significant increases in hepatitis infections or an HIV outbreak due to injection drug use.

Thirty states and 7 jurisdictions received this Determination of Need Justification from the CDC as of December 12, 2017, yet the redirection and utilization of these federal funds continues to be a challenge in many states.

Free Training and Technical Assistance (TA) 

Whether you need help with the Determination of Need Process, implementing new syringe access programs, or strengthening existing syringe access, capacity-building and technical assistance is available cost-free to community-based groups and health departments. Training and TA will increase your skills, infrastructure, and resources to help your organization operate optimally to deliver high quality and effective syringe access programs.

COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Community-based organizations may be eligible for free technical assistance on how to implement syringe access or support your existing program. Both AIDS United and Harm Reduction Coalition can provide assistance to your organization through the Getting to Zero training request form here.

DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

NASTAD works with health department HIV and hepatitis programs and provides capacity -building assistance and TA around creating, implementing, and supporting health department and community-based syringe access programs.

Discover national, statewide, and district-based information from amfAR's Opioid & Health Indicators Database.

October 2015 Congressional Briefing

On October 28th, 2015, the Coalition for Syringe Access hosted two panel discussions on pathways to reduce the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C (HVC) among people who inject drugs. The panel brought together experts on disease transmission, prevention and recovery and law enforcement who highlighted opportunities to strengthen partnerships between public health and public safety programs to reduce infection rates.