Below is an excerpt from a memo written by Beth Meyerson for the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention in March 2015.
The recent outbreak of HIV in southern Indiana among injectors of Opana brings attention to the lack of a strong public health system in these communities.
Syringe exchange programs (SEPs) are part of a comprehensive public health response to HIV and Hepatitis C. Key indicators of need for SEPs include reported Hepatitis C, and injection drug use. CDC indicates that between 50-90% of people with HCV are co-infected with HIV.