Even though needle exchange programs have been successful, they have been subject to some criticism. One of the main goals of the needle exchange program is to prevent or reduce the rate of transmission of any infectious disease, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C, by distributing sterile syringes . The target group for this program is injection drug users, as they have a high rate of repeat use of a contaminated syringe or sharing the same syringe with others. These programs do not just focus on distributing syringes to those who choose to accept them, some programs offer different services such as counseling groups, education classes on the risks of using contaminated syringes, free medical visits and HIV tests. On the other hand, some people may be against these types of programs because they allow injection drug users to continue using drugs. Another reason people may not accept needle exchange programs is because these programs are government funded. The study conducted by MacNeil and Pauly (2011) focused on the perspectives of people who use needle exchange programs in Canada. To receive data from injecting drug users, the researchers first recruited most of their participants at four needle exchange sites. A total of 33 people (23 men and 10 women) participated in this study. The average age of the participants was 40.3 years, for men the average was 43 years, while for women it was 34 years. Participants were either homeless or receiving government assistance programs. Of the 33 participants, six of them reported being HIV positive (18%) and 16 reported being diagnosed with...... middle of paper ......2. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3362.2010.00188.xMarx, MA, Crape, BC, Brookmeyer, RS, Junge, B., Latkin, C., Vlahov, D., Strathdee, SA, (2000). Crime trends and the introduction of a needle exchange program. American Journal of Public Health, 90(12), 1933-1936. Retrieved from PsycINFO. McLean, K. (2012). Needle exchange and the geography of survival in the South Bronx. International Journal Of Drug Policy, 23(4), 295-302. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.01.010Sherman, S.G. (2006). Critical conditions facing needle exchange programs: the politics of science. Substance use and abuse. pages 827–829. doi:10.1080/10826080600669520. Williams, CT and Ouellet, LJ (2010). Misdirected Opposition: Evidence Against the “Not in My Backyard” Arguments Against Needle Exchange Programs. International Journal of Drug Policy, 21(5), 437-439. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2010.02.003