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06-01-2021 Needle Exchage Policy UpdateNeedle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 Mayor Jim Ferrell 6/1/2021 1 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 Overview A summary of the events to date regarding Seattle & King County Public Health's distribution of needles in the City of Federal Way. 6/1/2021 2 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 3 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 0 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 5 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 ►, Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 PIP Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 X Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 10 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 11 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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 6/1/2021 12 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 (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 6/1/2021 13 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 (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 6/1/2021 14 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 15 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 16 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 17 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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); 6/1/2021 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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. 6/1/2021 19 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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; 6/1/2021 20 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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; 6/1/2021 21 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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; 6/1/2021 22 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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; 6/1/2021 23 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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; 6/1/2021 24 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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. 6/1/2021 25 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 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 6/1/2021 26 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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. 6/1/2021 27 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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 6/1/2021Source may be the SCORE program. 28 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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. 6/1/2021 29 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 • 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. 6/1/2021 30 Needle Exchange Policy UI June 1, 2021 Questions and Discussion 6/1/2021 31