For decades, public health experts have known that syringe exchange programs reduce the spread of certain viral infections — like H.I.V.,hepatitis B and hepatitis C — by removing contaminated syringes from circulation.
They have known that programs using sterile injection equipment are both safe and save money.
And yet they are rarely seen in the United States. Why not? That’s the topic of this week’s Healthcare Triage.
This episode was adapted from a column Austin wrote for The Upshot. Links to references and further reading can be found there.
