SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz County officials denied a grand jury report’s assertions that a needle-exchange program lacks transparency and limits public access to services.
The response was issued in August amid an opioid epidemic feeding demand for clean syringes and fueling concerns about methods to protect the public from hazardous waste.
The grand jury report, published in June, cited an increase of littered syringes and an apparent unwillingness to consider public comments for the county’s Syringe Services Program.
The grand jury report also claimed the program’s one-to-one needle policy is flawed because discarded needles are not counted by hand. At a recent Santa Cruz City Council meeting, Councilwoman Richelle Noroyan and Vice Mayor David Terrazas questioned whether current practices ensure an equal exchange of clean and used needles.
Officials at the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, which operates the program, said the service promotes safe disposal of syringes.
County staff observe the process and review the number of needles clients received during prior visits, Health Services Agency officials said.
“Asking staff or clients to physically count and handle syringes would place staff at risk and (would) be in violation of one of the primary goals of the program, which is to prevent the spread of infectious disease,” Health Services Agency officials said.
The service has not increased the number of needles littered in Santa Cruz County, Health Services Agency officials said.
“Research has found that syringes obtained from syringe-service programs are more likely to be safely disposed than syringes obtained from other sources,” Health Services Agency officials said. “And syringes are more likely to be safely disposed in cities with syringe service programs compared to those without.”
Clients can receive up to 15 syringes during the initial visit, according to the grand jury report. A health officer reviews each case to determine the number of needles that can be distributed during subsequent visits, according to the policy. No more than 15 needles can be distributed during subsequent visits.
In 2013, the county took over the service previously known as the Syringe Access Program. A group of volunteers formed the program in 1989 to curb the spread of HIV and hepatitis C with a needle-exchange program in a building on Pacific Avenue, where counseling, treatment and free condoms were offered, according to the grand jury report.
The report contends that the program doesn’t host public meetings, has no avenue for dialogue and its advisory group lacks members from the general public.
Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said increasing demand for the service is a result of its accessibility. The program’s web page also provides updated data about clients and needles exchanged.
“We’ve held several public meetings, and we’ve given dozens upon dozens of media interviews since taking over the program in 2013, in response to criticism of the prior needle-exchange program,” Hoppin said. “While we’re always willing to look at ways to better engage the community, the idea that we haven’t been communicative doesn’t hold water.”
The grand jury has legal authority to examine any elements of special districts, and city and county governments, according to court records. The grand jury’s findings are meant to improve government operations.
The grand jury report also stressed the need to have members of the general public on the advisory board.
Health Services Agency officials said the program has an advisory group of law enforcement and probation officers, pharmacy representatives and doctors to “mitigate any unintended consequences of operating a Syringe Services Program.”
The program’s next phase will broaden the advisory group’s membership to include residents and people impacted by addiction, Health Services Agency officials said.
The county agreed that one the facilities, at 1080 Emeline Ave., is too small — a dilemma for most Health Services Agency departments.
Another exchange site is at 1430 Freedom Blvd., Suite D in Watsonville.
Despite the grand jury report’s claim there is a lack of organized needle cleanups among multiple agencies, Health Services Agency officials said three county agencies have been working together to protect the public against such hazardous waste through regular beach and park cleanups.
“The issue will be added to a future agenda of the Syringe Services Program Advisory Group to discuss and analyze options for future cleanup efforts and multi-jurisdictional collaborations,” Health Services Agency officials said.
September 22, 2017
Santa Cruz Sentinel
By Michael Todd
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