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Agenda Item Number: <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY <br />Meeting Date: January 27, 2016 <br />Agenda Item Subject: Safe Syringe Initiative <br />Attachment(s): 1) Safe Syringe Initiative Presentation <br />2) Safe Syringe Initiative Proposal <br />Staff or Board Member Reporting: Meredith Stewart, Program Manager & Robin Gasparini, Public <br />Health Nursing Supervisor <br />Purpose: X Action <br />Information only <br />Information with possible action <br />Summary Information: Meredith and Robin will provide an overview of the staff and BOH Substance Abuse <br />and Mental Health Subcommittee's recommendation to start a Safe Syringe Initiative (SSI) at the Orange <br />County Health Department. This will include the health rationale for the program, program overview, and <br />feedback from staff and stakeholders. <br />Staff recommends that the Board of Health vote to approve the implementation of the Safe Syringe Initiative. <br />Following approval, the SSI will be operational no later than April 1, 2016 to allow time for staff training and <br />supply provision. <br />Background: In the 2014 -2016 BOH Strategic Plan, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health subcommittee <br />included researching methods to reduce infections passed through drug misuse and abuse as an action step. <br />The Board received an education session on syringe exchange programs at their June 2015 meeting by Tessie <br />Castillo of the NC Harm Reduction Coalition. Following this presentation, the Board directed staff to investigate <br />the feasibility and design of a program to provide residents with access to safe syringes and disposal of used <br />syringes. Staff researched best practices, communicated with law enforcement and legal stakeholders in the <br />county, held two Substance Abuse and Mental Health subcommittee meetings, and four forums for staff <br />comment on the topic between August 2015 and January 2016. The attached proposal is the culmination of <br />this work. <br />Recommended Action: X Approve <br />_Approve & forward to Board of Commissioners for action <br />_Approve & forward to <br />_Accept as information <br />_Revise & schedule for future action <br />_Other (detail): <br />