Syringe Access Programs & Law Enforcement: Building Alliances

Syringe Access Programs & Law Enforcement: Building Alliances

New York StateCurrent April 2012

Sharing Stories

Personal Program

About an encounter with law

enforcement  

About SAP relationships with law enforcement

Achievement-Based Objectives

  Illustrated the interaction SAPs and law enforcement experience around syringe access Explored SAP and law enforcement perspectives that drive strained interactions Acquired the data supporting and laws regulating syringe access services

Achievement-Based Objectives

Identified “best practices” for improving interactions between SAPS and law enforcement Discovered and demonstrated existing and new strategies for improving and/or building a working relationship between law enforcement and SAPs

Impact Of Perspective

Thoughts

FeelingsActions

 World Café: Part I

Law Enforcement Perspective

IDU Perspective

What might they think of IDUs?

What are their professional & personal concerns about IDUs?

What is their role? 

What might they think of law enforcement? What are their personal concerns about law enforcement?

World Café: Part II

Law Enforcement Perspective

IDU Perspective

How do these perspectives affect the way law enforcement behaves when it deals with IDUs?

How do these perspectives affect the way IDUs behave when they deal with law enforcement?

World Café: Part III

How do these perspectives affect the work we do?

Fear: IDUs ↔ The LawShare needles: 1.5 x more

Inject in a hurry, practice unhygienic injecting, damage veins, etc.

Don’t “test” strength drug to avoid overdose

Don’t report overdose

Don’t properly discard syringes

Reduces IDUs attending SAPs syringe access programs

Don’t collect/carry enough injecting equipment to meet injecting needs

Displaces IDUs, making them to difficult to reach Means IDUs don’t access other health services

Fear: IDUs ↔ The Law

Also:

Increases NSI (Needle Stick Injuries) to police

Escalates interactions between IDU & Law Enforcement

Fear: IDUs ↔ The Law

KNOW THE FACTS

Question 1: TRUE or FALSE?

SAPs lead to an increase community crime rates and drug use.

FALSE

Syringe Access

DOES NOT:

ENCOURAGE drug use

INCREASE crime rates

INCREASE # of new injectors

Question 2

How many people in the US are NEWLY infected each year with HIV & HCV due to syringe & equipment sharing?

A. 10,000 HIV & 5,000 HCVB. 8,000 HIV & 15,000 HCV C. 1,000 HIV & 3,000 HCVD. 4,000 HIV & 9,000 HCV

B

Syringe Access

DOES:

REDUCE risk for HCV

REDUCE risk for HIV

Don C. Des Jarlais. Beth Israel Medical Center. New York.

NY IDUsHIV Seroprevalence

Question 3: TRUE or FALSE?

Possession of sterile syringes is legal (in NYS).

TRUE

Law enforcement is often unaware of syringe possession laws.

Question 4: TRUE or FALSE?

Possession of used syringes with residue is legal? (in NYS).

TRUE

Possession of sterile and used syringes is legal if from SAP/ESAP/OOPP.

SAP Cards Confirm Membership

Participants receive different coded ID cards; codes are variations of numbers and letters

A 24-hour verification phone number is on the back of the ID card.

Programs are anonymous and confidential.

Question 5

A. 0B. 10C. 100D. No limit

The number of syringes that someone can carry at any one time (in NYS) is:

There is no limit on the number of syringes a SAP/ESAP client may carry.

Question 6: TRUE or FALSE?

It is legal to carry other injecting equipment and other drug paraphernalia (in NYS).

FALSE

It is NOT legal to carry other drug paraphernalia with

residue.

Penal Code 220.03 & 220.45

An arrest should not be made if the only charge is criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument.

An arrest should not be made for residue in a used syringe.

NB: Changes to Penal Code/Awaiting new NYPD Operations Order

• It is NOT legal to carry other drug paraphernalia with residue.

• Sharps containers are NOT considered drug paraphernalia

Other Equipment

Question 7: TRUE or FALSE?

Anyone over the age of 18 can purchase syringes at pharmacies without a prescription (in NYS).

TRUE

Individuals over 18 can buy up to 10 syringes in an ESAP pharmacy. BUT…

not everyone has a SAP ID card to possess syringes.

Question 8: TRUE or FALSE?

There is a difference in the legalities around drug paraphernalia/syringe possession in New York City and New York State.

FALSEThere is no limit on the geographical

location in New York City or State. Injectors can possess syringes in areas where there

is no SAP if a SAP/ESAP member.

Question 9: TRUE or FALSE?

SAPs increase syringes to be discarded in public places.

FALSE

Fewer discarded syringes: 82% return rate

Question 10

What percentage of police officers have had a needle stick injury (NSI)?

A. 80%B. 10%C. 30%D. 60%

C

• 30% police have had at least one NSI

• SAP does NOT increase NSI

NSI

Question 11: TRUE or FALSE?

There is a way for SAPs and their clients to report negative interactions with law enforcement. 

TRUE

In New York State, there is the New York State Department of Health

Incident Form  

Question 12: TRUE or FALSE?

Risk of infection of HCV or HIV through a needlestick is very high.

FALSE

NSI in healthcare settings less then 1 in 400

NSI community settings appears negligible

Making The Case

Take Care Out There!

Working Models

Putting it to Work

Prevention Response EvaluationWhat strategies can you/the program/the client use to prevent this scenario? 

How can you/the program/the client respond to this scenario for a positive outcome? 

How can you/the program/the client know if the strategies have an impact?

How can you monitor events?

Putting it to Work

Solutions

YouProgram

Client

EvaluationPrevention Response

Contact