Syringe Services programs provide a variety of services to people who use injection drugs, including providing sterile injection supplies and accepting used syringe waste.  Vermont has allowed syringe services programs for many years; NH passed enabling legislation for these programs in 2017.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Lebanon is providing sponsorship for the HIV/HCV Resource Center starting in 2018, to support their existing services in Hartford, VT as well as to support planned programs in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire.  New Hampshire programs are currently pending various approvals.  Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Community Health team has been working with Upper Valley community partners to identify potential syringe services sites, building a relationship between HIV/HCV Resource Center and potential volunteer staff for these services, and otherwise helping to prepare for syringe services programs once sites are identified.  

Syringe Services programs provide a variety of services to people who use injection drugs, including providing sterile injection supplies and accepting used syringe waste.  In addition, these programs often provide access to overdose reversal medications, testing for HIV/HCV, referral to substance use treatment programs; harm reduction education, and other care.

The CDC identifies Syringe Services programs as  an effective strategy for reducing transmission of HIV/HCV among persons who use injection drugs and increasing engagement of persons served in substance use treatment programs, and identifies these programs as an essential component of a comprehensive approach to a response to increasing opioid use nationally.