Date of Award

2021

Degree Name

Healthcare Administration

College

College of Business

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Research Paper

First Advisor

Dr. Alberto Coustasse

Abstract

Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) are put in place in regions in the US, where illegal injectable drug use is prevalent, in order to decrease the amount of blood borne diseases by at least 10%, such as Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), being spread throughout the drug-using community. People and Healthcare Professionals in these communities have questioned if NEPs have caused more harm to the drug users and if they have compromised public safety due to incorrect disposal of syringes.

During a study in 2011, the spread of blood borne diseases in areas where NEPs were present, decreased among people who used injectable drugs. Slowing the spread of these diseases kept the public safe. In 2018, Huntington, WV, had a HIV outbreak with 14 people infected and by January 2020, 82 people had contracted HIV. This event caused the public to be more cautious about needles lying around and had people wondering if they had contracted HIV.

The purpose of this research is to analyze if Needle Exchange Programs, in the United States, reduce the amount of blood borne diseases transmitted among injection drug users and to assess the community safety in which they are located. The working hypotheses is that Needle Exchange Programs, in the United States, help reduce the amount of blood borne diseases which are spread throughout the drug community and to assess the community safety where these programs are located.

The intended methodology for this qualitative research is a literature review and a semi-structured interview via online survey.

Subject(s)

Health services administration.

Needle exchange programs -- Research -- West Virginia.

AIDS (Disease) -- West Virginia -- Prevention.

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