HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-01-2021 Needle Exchage Policy UpdateNeedle Exchange Policy UI
June 1, 2021
Mayor Jim Ferrell
6/1/2021
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Needle Exchange Policy UI
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Overview
A summary of the events to date regarding
Seattle & King County Public Health's
distribution of needles in the City of
Federal Way.
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On December 28, the Mayor's office received phone
messages from several residents about social media
reports on December 24 that there was a van
distributing hypodermic needles in the
Safeway/Starbucks/Rite Aid parking lot near the
intersection of Pacific Highway and S. 320th Street.
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There was also a concern that safe injection may be
happening inside the vehicle.
In addition, there was an account of a needle distribution
van at the US Bank parking lot at the intersection of
Pacific Highway and S. 312th Street in the past.
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Staff contacted Seattle &King County Public Health
(S&KCPH) to find out if their needle exchange program,
SCORE (South King County Outreach Referral and
Exchange) was exchanging needles at these locations.
The response is that they had ceased distribution, at the
property owners request, over a year ago, and that they
have not used the S. 312th/Pac Highway location during
the ten years of the program.
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We were also informed by the S&KCPH representative
that SCORE is an appointment only program that meets
clients at their residences and does not go to shopping
centers or other public locations in the city.
At that time in December they would make
appointments via phone for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
Thursdays. That had recently changed to Tuesdays
through Fridays.
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On March 24, a resident shared photographs of an SUV
allegedly distributing needles at the Pac Highway and S.
320th location, specifically in the alley between Rite Aid
and Safeway complex. The photographs were shared
with S&KCPH.
S&KCPH stated that the SUV was not one of their
vehicles as they use vans, not SUV's, and that they go to
residences, meet clients at County park and rides, and do
not go to shopping centers, including this location.
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Also, on Thursday, March 25, a resident made an
appointment with SCORE and received a box of 100 clean
syringes at the Redondo Heights Park and Ride at Pacific
Highway and S 276th. She also met the van at the Park
and Ride at 348th Street and 9th Avenue the next day.
This was revealed on social media on Sunday, March 28,
and through radio interviews the following week.
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As Mayor, I believed that the program needed to be
paused so that the programs purpose, methods, and
impact on the community may be examined with the
involvement of our residents.
The revelation that 100 needles had been handed out
without exchange and that park and rides had become
distribution points were of significant concern.
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As Mayor I made a request to Patty Hayes, Director of
the Seattle &King County Public Health SCORE, to
voluntarily suspend operations.
On April 1, I followed up the request with a detailed
letter to Director Hayes documenting the concerns of our
community and confirming the suspension the program.
On April 5, Director Hayes replied, affirming the pause
and her willingness to engage in the public conversation.
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On April 6, the Mayor recommended, and the City
Council unanimously approved, a resolution that "we do
not believe it is appropriate to indiscriminately pass out
needles in our community with no verifiable background
on those receiving the needles and without notice to our
community, local government, or healthcare providers:'
An amendment made to the resolution required an
update at the city council meeting on June 1.
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As Mayor, I also appointed a Needle Exchange Working
Group comprised of residents on both sides of the issue
and subject matter experts. Members include:
• City Council President and Public Health Board Vice
Chair Susan Honda who served as chair.
• Former mayor and councilmember Jeanne Burbidge;
• Resident Anna Patrick
• Resident Nicole Hoffman
• Resident Diana Noble-Gulliford
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(Members continued)
• Resident Cynthia Ricks-Maccotan
• Resident Andrew Duane
• Bob Drake, owner of Drake Chiropractic
• Federal Way Police Commander Casey Jones
• South King Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Gordy
Goodsell
• CHI Franciscan/St. Francis Hospital Emergency Services
Clinical Coordinator, Joe Daley
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(Members continued)
• Dennis Worsham, Director of the Prevention Division
for Public Health —Seattle &King County Public Health
• Sara Glick, Assistant Professor for the UW Department
of Medicine Division of Allergy &Infectious Diseases and
epidemiologist of the HIV/STD Program for Public Health
Seattle &King County Public Health
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The Needle Exchange working group met three times, on
April 15, 22, and 29.
At the first meeting, the S&K Public Health team
discussed the goals and implementation of SCORE.
The legal counsel for the City also discussed the
Washington State Supreme Court decision in Spokane
County Health District v. Brockett, which places limits on
the ability of the City to regulate the distribution of
needles.
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At the second meeting, members asked follow-up
questions based on the previous public health and legal
presentations.
That meeting also generated follow-up questions to
S&KCPH that would be discussed at the third meeting.
discussed their recommendations for next steps.
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At the third meeting, the S&KCPH members did not
attend as the residents and local subject matter experts
discussed their recommendations for next steps.
The second and third meetings were publicly broadcast,
live on YouTube.
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On April 5, after consultation with Council President
Honda, as Mayor I sent a letter with nine requests that
emerged from the working group discussions:
1. Locate only at Park and Rides) --not at shopping
centers, schools, or public places;
2.
No
distribution
of
hypodermic
needles to minors;
3.
No
distribution
of
100 needles
or approximate
amount (unless for an appropriate specific medical
condition);
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4. Only one-to-one exchange of needles;
5. Intervention information/referrals should be given
out at each interaction;
6. Advanced notification of time and location when
they will be in our city;
7. Not allow or condone injection in van proximity;
8. Regular reporting of program metrics;
9. Partner on solutions for clean-up of discarded
needles.
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On May 10, Director Hayes sent a letter with the
following responses:
• They will serve Federal Way residents only at park and
rides and private residences;
• Teens don't use our services. If a teen were to come
and try to access our services, we would engage with
them and try to build a relationship and trust. If they are
teenagers using needles, they are in need very serious
help, and we may be their only trusted resource;
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• S&KCPH began using aneeds-based exchange model,
rather than cone -for -one exchange, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic to promote social distancing.
Needs -based exchange is recommended by the CDC
as of fall 2020. We will continue to follow CDC
guidance and best practices;
• The amount of needles distributed without
exchange will also follow the new CDC needs -
based guidelines;
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• Intervention information and referrals are available to
clients at every encounter, and staff is trained to
engage clients in these conversations;
• SCORE will come to Federal Way 2-3 times per week,
depending on requests from Federal Way residents.
SCORE serves clients Tuesdays through Fridays;
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• We do not condone injection in proximity of the
SCORE van. We will incorporate our Good Neighbor
program from the Downtown Needle Exchange into
our SCORE programming. This program encourages
our clients to responsibly dispose of needles and not
use drugs in public spaces;
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• Each year, S&KCPH produces an annual HIV/AIDS
Epidemiology Report and Community Profile Report
which includes data on our SSPs. This report can be
found on our website. S&KCPH will provide an annual
report specific to the services provided in Federal Way
by the beginning of each year in conjunction with our
larger report;
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• Safe disposal is a key component of our program. Our
needle exchange program provides sharps disposal
for clients and provides sharps containers for safe
handling and transportation as needed. With each
encounter, staff provide education about the
importance of proper disposal of all used equipment.
PHSKC does not have resources to provide clean-up
services outside of our program, though we are very
supportive of the City providing this service.
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N ext Steps
On May 19, we received a report that the SCORE van
was meeting clients at our Park and Rides. On the
same day, we received a report from a resident, along
with photographs (including a license plate) of a SUV
distributing needles at the Pacific Highway and S.
320th location. The SUV had been asked to leave by
property security officers,
had permission.
though they claimed they
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• Staff contacted S&KCPH and confirmed that the SUV
was not a SCORE vehicle, but that SCORE had
resumed meeting clients at King County Park and
Rides.
• 1 am appreciative that Director Patty Hayes voluntarily
paused the program. It resulted in an honest
exchange of views and the SCORE van distribution
being limited to residences and park and rides.
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• As Mayor, I remain concerned about the proliferation
of needles in our community and believe that the
adoption of the CDC guidelines that recommends a
needs -based versus one-to-one exchange is a
significant contributing factor to needle proliferation.
As exchange is no longer mandatory, and a higher
amount of needle distribution per visit, there is a
large increase in the amount of needles distributed.
In addition, there is mounting evidence that third
parties are receiving and distributing needles whose
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• In addition, there is mounting evidence that third
parties are receiving and distributing needles whose
source may be the SCORE program.
• And, as the new CDC procedures may be resulting in
needle proliferation city-wide, including our wetlands,
businesses, school grounds, and neighborhoods, we
are undertaking a program to document needles by
location, number, and date found.
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• While the precedent in Spokane County Health
District v. Brockett applies to a public health crisis
such as AIDS and Hepatitis, this research may open up
a whole new area of examination of needle programs
and protections for our residents.
• We will continue to monitor the program and
evaluate our options.
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Questions and Discussion
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