Syringe Services Program
Syringe Services Program
The Monroe County Health Officer sent a declaration of a local public health emergency to the Commissioners as part of the required process to request a Syringe Service Program (SSP). View that declaration here.
- Syringe exchange presentation given during September 4, 2015 Commissioner meeting
- View the Monroe County Health Department's statement on Syringe Service Programs here.
- For research and information from the IU Center for Health Policy regarding injection use and the risk it poses for HIV transmission, click here.
- The Monroe County Health Department received approval to continue the Syringe Service Program (SSP) during 2017. View the 2016 SSP Annual Report here.
Naloxone Grant
Could you or someone you know be at risk of overdosing from an opiate drug? Aaron's Law, (Indiana Senate Bill 405) allows the general public to administer naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, to a friend or family member who is experiencing an opioid overdose. Due to a grant from the Indiana State Department of Health, the Monroe County Health Department can provide it free, along with a brief training on how to use it. For more information, call 812-349-2722.
Naloxone / Narcan Training Videos
Training Video Naloxone
Training Video Narcan
Overdose Prevention, Recognition and Response Including Use of Intranasal Naloxone
SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP) PLAN
The Monroe County Health Department contracts with the Indiana Recovery Alliance (IRA) to operate a syringe services program in Monroe County. The IRA was created to provide harm reduction resources to Indiana residents in accordance with Senate Bill 461. The IRA's goal is to provide services to participants who self-identify as intravenous drug users in Monroe County, Indiana and to promote and facilitate harm reduction via any positive change as a person defines it for themselves. For more information, visit their website at http://indianarecoveryalliance.org/.
Wondering what syringe exchanges or syringe services are? This video from LA gives some insight from law enforcement and program view. This is an example of one program following best practices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgPX2gIEEZI&feature=em-share_video_user&noredirect=1
SHARPS DISPOSAL
According to 410 IAC 1-3-4, "contaminated sharps" are "infectious waste" and in 410 IAC 1-3-4 sharps are defined as "any object used to cut or penetrate the skin or that come in contact with blood or body fluids." These items, such as syringes, must be discarded properly to protect waste handlers and the public from injury and prevent exposure to infectious diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis. Self-injectors often wonder how to safely dispose of their sharps at home. Red biohazard SHARPS containers are available for purchase from drug stores and medical supply companies and cost from $5 to $15 per container, not including a safe disposal plan. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has a sharps collection program. Solid waste management districts and health departments participate to provide safe disposal options to home sharps users. Go to www.safeneedledisposal.org and check to see if your county participates.
www.safeneedledisposal.org/general-information/sharps-disposal-containers/
Learn how to safely dispose of needles and what to do in case of injury:
Click here for Safe Needle Disposal Brochure
Click here for Safe Sharps Disposal Poster
A joint report from National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National League of Cities (NLC) examines how cities and counties can strengthen collaboration with each other and state, federal, private-sector, and non-profit partners to tackle the opioid crisis.
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