Controversial syringe program returns to Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) - A controversial syringe distribution program is back in the spotlight in Santa Cruz County. After being shut down last year, the Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County is once again operating its mobile syringe service.

The program has drawn both support and criticism from the community.

“It’s good for public health to help stop the spread of the disease,” one supporter said.

Health officials say the program is designed to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases in the community by providing people with clean, safe supplies.

“It has a major benefit to the community in reducing the infectious diseases that we see transmitted throughout the community by providing people with safer supplies that they can use,” County Deputy Health Officer Karissa LeClair Cortez said.

The return of the mobile program comes at a time when officials say drug use trends are changing.

“We are thankfully seeing in Santa Cruz a shift away from people injecting drugs, for a number of reasons, which is decreasing the amount of syringes that we see,” Cortez said.

Still, public opinion remains split. While some residents view the program as a critical harm reduction tool, others see it as a potential community risk.

“I think because they think it kind of encourages people to use drugs, but I don't find that to be the case at all,” one supporter said.

“I just think diseases would spread and people would be suffering more if they weren't to bring it back,” one supporter said.

“People are going to do what they're going to do. So it's good to keep them and others safe and see why,” another community member said.

The strategy behind the mobile syringe program is built on the concept of meeting people where they’re at, particularly those dealing with homelessness and substance use.

“Meeting people where they're at, we know that a number of unhoused people are served by these programs, and I think that the fact that they are able to offer mobile exchange in some locations that we're not able to is really beneficial,” Cortez said.

The program also aims to reduce the risk of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C by making clean syringes more accessible.

“These types of programs that provide people with clean syringes, in addition to the benefits that it provides by reducing infectious diseases, doesn't increase the amount of illegal drug use, doesn't increase the amount of syringe litter in the communities,” Cortez said.

The city is also taking steps to promote safe syringe disposal by offering drop-off boxes for used needles.

“I think folks also having a location that they can go to to exchange syringes really helps expand community safety actually by reducing the number of unsafely disposed syringes in the community,” one resident said.

The overall goal of the program is to protect both individuals and the broader public by minimizing harm.

“We want to make sure that we're minimizing the amount of harm that's happening to people and also to the community as a means of bringing people into care,” Cortez said.

Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante issued a statement acknowledging both the value and the challenges that come with the program. He said,

“I appreciate the Mobile Syringe Program’s dedication to harm reduction and the services they provide. Like many public health initiatives, their work intersects with broader community concerns, including the need for effective syringe disposal to ensure public spaces remain safe and clean, which we still see some challenges related to public safety when it comes to proper syringe disposal.”

The City of Santa Cruz continues to encourage the safe disposal of used needles at designated drop-off locations.