Canada’s Prison Needle Exchange Programs Show Major Healthcare Savings

Recent research reveals that Canada’s Prison Needle Exchange Programs (PNEPs) offer significant healthcare savings, with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.9. The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, advocates for expanding PNEPs to all federal prisons, potentially preventing new hepatitis C infections and reducing treatment costs. As Canada aims to improve health outcomes for incarcerated individuals, this compelling evidence supports the need for wider implementation of needle exchange programs.