Strengthening syringe services program - nastad intends to build the capacity of the infectious disease workforce, in partnership with syringe services programs (SSPS), to create and expand…

Strengthening syringe services program - nastad intends to build the capacity of the infectious disease workforce, in partnership with syringe services programs (SSPS), to create and expand essential health services for people who use and inject drugs (pwuds, pwids). Nastad and proposed partners vocal and university of washington (UW) are among the nation's most experienced, effective, and trusted providers of drug user health-focused capacity building assistance to health departments (HDS) and community-based organizations (CBOS), specializing in the development, funding, and operation of SSPS and dissemination of programmatic best practices. SSPS are vital, frontline public health lifelines for people facing health risks, marginalization, and criminalization related to drug use and provide access to, and disposal of, sterile syringes and injection equipment, vaccination, testing for infectious diseases, naloxone distribution, and linkage to infectious disease care and substance use treatment. Service continuity and consistency are essential to preventing infectious disease and overdose deaths among people who use drugs. Due to increasing morbidity and mortality from unsafe drug use and high demand for services, nearly all existing programs are in need of dedicated and sustainable funding. Further, resources and tailored support are necessary to improve service availability through the creation of new programs.