Final answer:
A needle exchange program typically results in reduced HIV transmission rates among injection drug users by providing clean needles, reducing the use of contaminated needles, and connecting users with treatment services.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of the final outcome for a needle exchange program is a) Reduction in HIV transmission rates among injection drug users. Needle exchange programs are public health initiatives that provide clean needles to injection drug users in exchange for used ones to prevent the spread of contagious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. These programs are part of a harm-reduction strategy aiming to reduce health risks associated with drug use by limiting the circulation of potentially contaminated needles.
Assessment of needle exchange programs has shown that they are effective in reducing the rates of HIV transmission. They do not promote increased needle sharing among participants (b), nor do they result in a rise in overall drug abuse rates (c), and they are certainly not associated with unchanged prevalence of infectious diseases (d). On the contrary, by providing access to sterile injecting equipment and often linking users with addiction treatment services, these programs can contribute to a decrease in risky behaviors associated with drug abuse and a lower incidence of disease transmission.