Strengthening Syringe Services Programs

This NOFO aims to increase access to harm reduction services for people who currently inject or have a history of injecting drugs (PWID) and reduce incidence of infectious diseases and complications of injection drug use through two components. Component 1 will expand a national network of syringe services programs (SSPs) to facilitate communication and networking among SSPs, other harm reduction programs, and trusted national organizations with a demonstrated portfolio in improving the health of persons who use drugs (PWUD). This component also improves data about SSPs by surveying SSPs to document capacity, needs, and service gaps. Component 2 will increase support and resources to SSPs for implementation of distribution of sterile injection supplies and disposal of used injection supplies; testing, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases and infectious complications from injection drug use; and mitigation of other harms due to drug use. Applicants may apply for Component 1, Component 2, or both. Expected outcomes include: improved collaboration, communication, and data about SSPs nationwide; increased access to harm reduction services; decreased unsafe injection practices; decreased new infections of HCV, HBV, HAV, HIV, endocarditis, and other infections; decreased overdose rates and mortality; increased capacity for responding to outbreaks of infections associated with injection drug use; and increased services available through SSPs in the United States.