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Q&A
Discussion on the implementation of the community syringe redemption program
1:41:06
·
118 sec
Health department officials provide details about the recently launched community syringe redemption program and the broader context of syringe services in New York City.
- The program collected over 20,000 needles in its first four weeks
- There are 14 syringe services programs across the city, but syringes are also available through other means like pharmacies
- Officials emphasize the importance of wraparound services and education on safe syringe disposal
- The discussion covers the various ways people can access and dispose of syringes safely
Michelle Morse
1:41:06
I'll also just mention that our community syringe redemption program was officially launched just a few weeks ago.
1:41:13
In the first four weeks of the program, over 20,000 needles have been collected and safely discarded as a part of the program.
1:41:22
So we are very optimistic that that program will continue to have significant impact on protecting the health of New Yorkers using public spaces while also engaging people in opportunities to get treated for any substance use services they might be interested in.
1:41:41
I'm gonna pass to our assistant commissioner, Doctor.
1:41:44
Rebecca Lynn Walton to share a little bit more about funding of our syringe service providers.
Rebecca Linn-Walton
1:41:49
Thank you.
1:41:50
Nice to see you again.
1:41:51
Thank you for the question.
1:41:52
So we have 14 syringe services programs across the city, but we also know that that's just a fraction of the ways in which people get syringes throughout the city, that people are getting them through pharmacies, through all of the ways in which we want people to have access to syringes for a wide number of reasons, including diabetes care and fertility medication, all of the things that people need syringes for.
1:42:14
So there are thousands of places across the city that people can access safe, clean syringes and we want that to continue.
1:42:21
We also make sure that the syringe services programs have a lot of wraparound for all of those services.
1:42:29
For access to supportive care like buprenorphine and all sorts of other harm reduction efforts.
1:42:37
We also know that our syringe services programs do a tremendous amount of education around safe syringe disposal.
1:42:44
So we're making sure that people are getting syringes both back to the program and also disposing of them in their own homes.
1:42:50
That we know that so many people are getting these services who are living in private spaces and we don't want them carting it back to the place where they may be getting care.
1:43:00
We want them safely disposing in their home.
1:43:02
And so that's a lot of the ways in which people are disposing.