Most Syringe Exchange Clients in Washington State Say They Want Help

Researchers from the University of Washington surveyed clients at syringe exchange sites in Washington state in 2015, to understand people’s interest in stopping or reducing their opioid use. They found that most people wanted help, but weren’t getting it, according to a study, published this month in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

Data for the study was collected from 436 people from 17 syringe exchange programs across the state. More than 77 percent of participants reported wanting to stop or reduce their use, according to the study.

“This research shows that people do want to stop using opioids,” said senior author Caleb Banta-Green, interim director of the UW’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute (ADAI) and affiliate associate professor of health services at the School of Public Health. “We just need to get people the care they need on their terms. We’ve started to deliver that care and now we’re evaluating the services.” Read more...