More join movement to stop secondary needle exchange program

The Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County hands out free needles to those who want them.

Since the coalition’s start, over 14,000 people have signed a petition against the service. “All it is is giving out needles and hoping for the best,” said former addict, Damon Bruder.

This week, several community leaders and county agencies joined the battle. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is just one of them. Sergeant Dee Baldwin said their stance is clear: they don’t want a secondary needle exchange program in Santa Cruz County. “Adding an additional distribution point, that’s just not necessary in the county, is going to increase the likelihood of additional syringe litter,” said Baldwin.

In a letter written to the California Department of Public Health, the Sheriff’s Office said the program would provide little to no oversight. Bruder said this will not only put the community at risk, but those who use needles everyday. “There’s no mental health help. There’s none of the wrap around services that harm reduction is supposed to incorporate.” said Bruder.

Organizer with the coalition, Denise Ellerick, said they collected over 9,000 needles at the Ross Camp, before it was cleared. Bruder said the coalition actually helped to create that problem. “The Harm Reduction Coalition was handing out between 300 and 600 needles a day for months at the Ross Camp. There was a huge red kiosk for depositing used sharps within feet of that camp,” said Bruder.

Ellerick stands by her goal of building a healthy community. She said preventing the spread of HIV will remain her top priority. “We’re not having a conversation about an HIV outbreak over the past three months, so that’s a good thing,” said Ellerick.