Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
DOHMH's perspective on community syringe litter issues and SSPs
0:45:06
ยท
61 sec
Rebecca Linn-Walton from DOHMH emphasizes the need to separate the community syringe litter issue from the operations of Syringe Service Programs (SSPs).
- Linn-Walton argues that the 14 SSPs are not solely responsible for the opioid crisis or the syringe litter problem
- DOHMH is addressing the litter issue through Outreach and Public Safety Teams (OSL)
- The department uses the term 'Syringe Services Program' to emphasize the range of services provided beyond needle distribution
Rebecca Linn-Walton
0:45:06
And I think it's important to uncouple the community syringe litter issue from SSPs, that it's not 14 programs that are leading to the opioid crisis we're having, the affordability crisis that is causing so many people to be unhoused in New York and causing so much burden on community and loved ones about people's need.
0:45:27
And so what we're trying to do is address that issue by having OSL teams go out and address the syringes that are most likely not coming from the SSPs or the hundreds of other locations to get thank you.
0:45:41
Just got a note.
0:45:41
So the exchange word is the state word.
0:45:44
So we use Syringe Services Program because we want to be more clear about what we're doing.
0:45:49
We're providing lots and lots of services.
0:45:51
Some of that is needle services and lots are coming back to us as well.
0:45:55
But I do think the most important piece is to uncouple the public litter issue that we are very, very focused on addressing from the syringe services programs.
0:46:06
Okay.