TABLE 2—
Changes in Performance of 24 Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs), by Assembly AB136 (AB136) Status: California, 2000–2002
| AB136 Approved (n = 14), No. (%) | AB136 Unapproved (n = 10), No. (%) | |
| Syringe dispensation categorya | ||
| Improved | 2 (14) | 1 (10) |
| Worsened | 1 (7) | 3 (30) |
| Active injection drug users | ||
| Improved | 3 (21) | 3 (30) |
| Worsened | 1 (7) | 1 (10 |
| Syringe shortages | ||
| Improved | 3 (21) | 1 (10) |
| Worsened | 0 (0) | 4 (40) |
| Supply shortages | ||
| Improved | 1 (7) | 2 (20) |
| Worsened | 1 (7) | 2 (20) |
| Police harassment of SEP | ||
| Improved | 6 (43) | 3 (30) |
| Worsened | 0 (0) | 2 (20) |
| Police presence near SEP | ||
| Improved | 4 (28) | 0 (0) |
| Worsened | 3 (21) | 3 (30) |
| Police contact with SEP clients | ||
| Improved | 2 (14) | 0 (0) |
| Worsened | 1 (7) | 1 (10) |
| Political support | ||
| Improved | 4 (28) | 3 (30) |
| Worsened | 3 (21) | 1 (10) |
| On-site HIV testing | ||
| Improved | 1 (7) | 0 (0) |
| Worsened | 2 (14) | 0 (0) |
| On-site HCV testing | ||
| Improved | 3 (21) | 2 (20) |
| Worsened | 2 (14) | 1 (10) |
Note. HCV = hepatitis C virus. Beginning in January 2000, Assembly AB136 protected operators of SEPs authorized by local jurisdictions (city or county) from criminal prosecution for distributing syringes and needles.
aPolicy that program uses for dispensing syringes to clients; 5 program types were observed: 1) unlimited, need-based syringe exchange, 2) unlimited 1-for-1 exchange plus 5 to 10 additional syringes, 3) limited 1-for-1 exchange plus 5 to 10 additional syringes that could be exchanged, 4) unlimited 1-for-1 exchange, and 5) strict 1-for-1 exchange with a limit on syringes exchanged per visit.