One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
OC Syringe Exchange
Topline:
A syringe delivery and pick up program has the green light from state health officials to operate in Santa Ana. City officials strongly object.
Why it matters: The nonprofit Harm Reduction Institute can deliver clean syringes and pickup used syringes at homes, tents, RVs and other nontraditional forms of housing for two years – but not to unhoused people near playgrounds or schools.
Letter to the state: Santa Ana City leaders oppose the plan, citing concerns about syringe litter and safety. In response, the Harm Reduction Institute will conduct syringe clean-ups and education. Still, Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua says she’s “disappointed that the state health department would override our local government authority to protect our community.”
Do syringe exchanges work? Yes. According to the CDC, participants in syringe exchange programs are 3.5 times more likely to stop injecting drugs, and 5 times more likely to enter treatment. They also help people prevent transmitting bloodborne and other infections when they inject drugs.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
