HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresentation - City Manager Comments - Needle DistributionNeedle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 1
Orange County
Needle Distribution Update
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 2
Legislative History
•Health and Safety Code –121349 –Authorization of exchange of
clean hypodermic needles and syringes
•In 2011, H&S 121349 was signed into law, which allows the State
Department of Public Health to authorize entities to provide
hypodermic needle and syringe exchange programs (SEP’s) in any
location the DPH determines that conditions exist for the rapid
spread of disease.
•Amended in 2018 –Law changed in order to expand the scope of
materials SSP’s may distribute
•Amended in 2020 –Law changed to allow possession of syringe
without a prescription
•Amended in 2022 –Law Changed to allow NO CEQA review
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 3
Santa Ana History
•In February 2016, OCNEP (Orange County Needle Exchange Program)
opened in Santa Ana
•Santa Ana Said:
–“During the time they were operational from 2016 to early 2018, we
experienced an overwhelming increase of needle debris —not only in
the Civic Center, but throughout the entire city,”
–“Ever since the needle exchange program was removed here in the city,
we have seen a dramatic decrease not only in the Civic Center but
throughout the city of the proliferation of discarded needles.”
–“You Can’t call it a needle exchange when it’s not a one-to-one ration. It
was a needle distribution program.”
•OCNEP was closed at the beginning of 2018
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 4
Needle Distribution Impacts
•The City of Santa Ana experienced increased
community complaints regarding discarded
needle debris throughout the City.
•Dirty Needles found in the Santa Ana Library
•Dirty needles were found outside of the
library, in parking lots, around government
buildings and strewn about Downtown Santa
Ana.
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 5
Needle Distribution Impacts
•250,000 needles never
collected
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 6
Where the Needles Went
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 7
Where the Needles Went
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 8
Where the Needles Went
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 9
Where the Needles Went
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 10
Where the Needles Went
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 11
From the Current Application
3. What is the estimated annual number of
participants you will serve?
ANSWER: 500
4. What is the estimated annual number of
syringes you will provide?
ANSWER: 300,000
5. What is the estimated annual number of
syringes you will collect?
ANSWER: 180,000
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 12
From the Current Application
•How will syringes be provided?
–Needs-based approach
•Defined as providing participants syringes with “no
restrictions.”
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 13
From the Current Application
•The program will be staffed by 6
employees
•Total cost: $706,001
•Staff responsibilities
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 14
What’s Next
•California Department Of Public Health
(CDPH)
•Proposed needle distributions -City of
Santa Ana (santa-ana.org)
•www.santa-ana.org/needle-distribution
Needle Distribution Update
City Manager’s Office
February 20, 2024
Slide 15
Thank You