All three are necessary for the programs to be effective, but health education is the only uncontroversial one. While providing clean needles is an important part of preventing the transmission of AIDS--it discourages IDUs from sharing needles and spreading the disease--many people view it as encouraging drug use.
然而，除了「加強衛教」一節爭議較小以外，對於防治愛滋病甚為重要的提供乾淨針頭，以防止用毒者共用針頭導致感染，卻是許多人眼中變相「鼓勵吸毒」的做法。