Faculty Collaboration Database

Syringe exchange in the United States: a national level economic evaluation of hypothetical increases in investment. AIDS Behav 2014 Nov;18(11):2144-55

Date

05/16/2014

Pubmed ID

24824043

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4211599

DOI

10.1007/s10461-014-0789-9

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84919419795 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   50 Citations

Abstract

To examine whether increasing investment in needle/syringe exchange programs (NSPs) in the US would be cost-effective for HIV prevention, we modeled HIV incidence in hypothetical cases with higher NSP syringe supply than current levels, and estimated number of infections averted, cost per infection averted, treatment costs saved, and financial return on investment. We modified Pinkerton's model, which was an adaptation of Kaplan's simplified needle circulation theory model, to compare different syringe supply levels, account for syringes from non-NSP sources, and reflect reduction in syringe sharing and contamination. With an annual $10 to $50 million funding increase, 194-816 HIV infections would be averted (cost per infection averted $51,601-$61,302). Contrasted with HIV treatment cost savings alone, the rate of financial return on investment would be 7.58-6.38. Main and sensitivity analyses strongly suggest that it would be cost-saving for the US to invest in syringe exchange expansion.

Author List

Nguyen TQ, Weir BW, Des Jarlais DC, Pinkerton SD, Holtgrave DR

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Cost Savings
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Female
HIV Infections
Health Care Costs
Humans
Male
Models, Economic
Needle-Exchange Programs
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
United States