TY - JOUR
T1 - Public opinion about syringe exchange programmes in the USA
T2 - An analysis of national surveys
AU - Vernick, Jon S.
AU - Burris, Scott
AU - Strathdee, Steffanie A.
N1 - Funding Information:
As is often the case with public opinion polls, however, precise question wording can strongly affect observed public support or opposition. For example, in both 1998 and 1999, the Family Research Council asked questions about support for SEPs. In the 1998 question, users of SEPs were referred to as “those addicted to illegal drugs”. In 1999, the question was identical, except that users of SEPs were now described as “drug addicts”. Support in 1998 was 43%; in 1999, it had fallen to 34%. In an earlier 1997 poll sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the phrase “IV (intravenous) drug users” is employed, and 64% of respondents favoured SEPs.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - Background: Despite scientific evidence demonstrating their effectiveness, syringe exchange programs (SEPs) have not been as widely embraced by policy-makers in the USA as in some other nations. One reason for this disjunction between science and policy may be the effect of public opinion. Methods: To better understand the role of public opinion in shaping SEP policies, we undertook a systematic search for all reported U.S. national surveys asking about support or opposition to SEPs. Relevant polls were identified through a national database of public opinion questions, and a similar search of a newspaper database. We present the survey findings. The wording of poll questions and the agenda of organisations sponsoring the polls are also examined. Results: Twenty-one questions from 14 different polls conducted from 1987 to 2000 were identified. Support for SEPs ranged from 29 to 66%. Surveys conducted by organisations with a public health agenda were more likely to suggest support for SEPs than those sponsored by organisations with a "family values" perspective. Question wording appeared to strongly influence support for SEPs. Poll questions that referred to "drug addicts" were less likely to indicate majority support for SEPs than those that avoided loaded terms or that provided public health information to respondents. Discussion: Public opinion regarding SEPs is very malleable, strongly affected by question wording or other biases of organisations sponsoring the polls. Therefore, there may be no clear national consensus on the desirability of SEPs. Our findings are particularly relevant for national policy, such as federal funding for SEPs.
AB - Background: Despite scientific evidence demonstrating their effectiveness, syringe exchange programs (SEPs) have not been as widely embraced by policy-makers in the USA as in some other nations. One reason for this disjunction between science and policy may be the effect of public opinion. Methods: To better understand the role of public opinion in shaping SEP policies, we undertook a systematic search for all reported U.S. national surveys asking about support or opposition to SEPs. Relevant polls were identified through a national database of public opinion questions, and a similar search of a newspaper database. We present the survey findings. The wording of poll questions and the agenda of organisations sponsoring the polls are also examined. Results: Twenty-one questions from 14 different polls conducted from 1987 to 2000 were identified. Support for SEPs ranged from 29 to 66%. Surveys conducted by organisations with a public health agenda were more likely to suggest support for SEPs than those sponsored by organisations with a "family values" perspective. Question wording appeared to strongly influence support for SEPs. Poll questions that referred to "drug addicts" were less likely to indicate majority support for SEPs than those that avoided loaded terms or that provided public health information to respondents. Discussion: Public opinion regarding SEPs is very malleable, strongly affected by question wording or other biases of organisations sponsoring the polls. Therefore, there may be no clear national consensus on the desirability of SEPs. Our findings are particularly relevant for national policy, such as federal funding for SEPs.
KW - HIV/AIDS
KW - Injection drug users
KW - Needle exchange
KW - Survey
KW - Syringe
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U2 - 10.1016/S0955-3959(03)00144-0
DO - 10.1016/S0955-3959(03)00144-0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0242628158
SN - 0955-3959
VL - 14
SP - 431
EP - 435
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
IS - 5-6
ER -