Driving Time, Distance, and Cost to Access Syringe Services Programs in the US

What travel time, distance, and cost burdens are associated with accessing the nearest syringe services program (SSP) in the US, and do these vary by SSP legality?In this cross-sectional study including 1338 SSPs, the population-weighted mean 1-way driving time to the nearest SSP was 46 minutes and cost was $9, with 23% of the population living more than 60 minutes away. In states legalizing SSPs, mean 1-way travel time and cost were 30 minutes and $5 vs 111 minutes and $24 in states where they were illegal.The findings suggest limited geographic access to SSPs imposes time and financial burdens that may reduce utilization and exacerbate drug-related harms.

Corresponding Author: Spruha Joshi, PhD, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (spruha@umich.edu).

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