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0 FIP;10? <br />May 25, 2023 <br />Dear Friends and Neighbors, <br />I urge you to join me in submitting a public comment to California's Department of Public Health opposing a <br />proposed expansion to the Harm Reduction Institute's (HRI) application to add mobile delivery of syringe <br />needles to its existing operations within our county. The HRI is a drug intervention nonprofit organization <br />based in Santa Ana. As a lifelong Santa Ana resident and as an Orange County Supervisor representing the <br />second district, which includes the city of Santa Ana, I am personally aware of the opposition from my <br />constituents to the mobile delivery of syringes and needles. <br />I recognize the importance of harm reduction through the use of sterile needles to help reduce the <br />transmission of infections, including HIV and Hepatitis C. However, I disagree with the proposed collection <br />strategy of used syringes since past needle exchange efforts have resulted in most of them turning up as <br />litter near schools, parks, and other public spaces, endangering many in our community, including children, <br />seniors, and frontline emergency workers. <br />We have seen this play out before. Santa Ana has had negative experiences with syringe exchange <br />programs, including the OC Needle Exchange Program (2016-2018) and Harm Reduction Institute (2019- <br />2022). The burden of used syringes littering the community was overwhelming. HRI's cause is noble, but the <br />proposed requirements and safeguards for collecting used syringes are unacceptable and directly endanger <br />our community. I urge you to submit your comments and let the state's Department of Public Health <br />