As was highlighted in our March 2008 issue, we implemented a new service earlier this year that puts vouchers in the hands of those people who need access to sterile syringes and HIV prevention materials as well as safe injection supplies. While the focus is upon intravenous drug users, any person needing syringes for other medications may access them (e.g., senior citizen who injects insulin daily but has limited funds to pay the co-pay for their syringes).

Community providers partnering with Catholic Charities AIDS Services agree to place a poster in public waiting areas to alert consumers to voucher availability. Staff may also give out vouchers to those they identify as currently using drugs or at risk of relapse. Vouchers are now available at the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York, Albany Damien Center, Albany Medical Center’s AIDS Treatment Clinic, Capital District African-American Coalition on AIDS, Catholic Charities AIDS Services (all sites), Sacred Heart Church (North Albany) Outreach Center, Unity House and Whitney M. Young Health Center.

Participants may take the vouchers for redemption to obtain 10 free new syringes and HIV prevention materials in Albany at Town Total Pharmacy in North Albany and Lincoln Pharmacy on the corner of Morton and Delaware Avenues. Participants are directed to dispose of used syringes and supplies appropriately and safely using disposal kiosk units. We are in the final phase of adding a pharmacy in Cohoes, plus working on identifying pharmacies for Schenectady, Troy and Amsterdam thereby making access to many participants who lack transportation.

Once a participant redeems at a pharmacy, they receive a new voucher for the next visit making it unnecessary to access future vouchers from their worker. Every voucher is given a code so that tracking of originating agency may be done, in addition to tracking unduplicated participants who redeem once or for repeated visits.

Any community agency may be added to our roster of participating entities. Please call Keith Brown at 449-3581, ext 106 for more information.