Background:
The City & County of Denver enacted an ordinance in 1997 allowing for the establishment of a needle exchange program with oversight from the Department of Environmental Health (DEH). However, the state’s paraphernalia laws traditionally prevented local jurisdictions from enacting a needle exchange program on a local level. On May 26, 2010, Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. signed into law Senate Bill-10-189 which exempts staff and volunteers of a needle exchange program from the state’s paraphernalia laws with overwhelming bi-partisan support.
As a result of passage of this bill, local jurisdictions are able to enact a legal needle exchange program at a local level. In Denver, multiple discussions with stakeholders, law enforcement, the Denver District Attorney’s office, treatment advocates, community members and public health officials have since taken place. In March 2011, the Denver City Council amended Denver’s existing needle exchange ordinance.
In May 2011, DEH staff and the City Attorney’s Office presented draft rules to the Board of Environmental Health for review and approval during its public input process to implement the City’s needle exchange ordinance and state law. The Board of Environmental Health approved and adopted the rules and regulations governing needle exchange as presented.
Goal:
The primary goal of the Needle Exchange Program (NEP) administered by the Denver Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is to work in partnership with nonprofit agencies in our community to help prevent the spread of infectious disease associated with injection drug use through early identification of infection (testing), referral to treatment, community education, behavioral counseling, and by providing harm reduction supplies through a needle exchange program. DEH seeks to connect injection drug users with treatment and resources in the City & County of Denver that can assist with case management, mental health, partner notification, and other services. This is accomplished through education, referral and prevention services provided on-site at three locations in the City & County of Denver.
Certifications:
On September 2011, the DEH Board approved the Colorado Health Network d/b/a Colorado AIDS Project as the first needle exchange site. On December 2011, the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center d/b/a The Harm Reduction Action Center was certified as a second site in the city to provide these services. A third site has not been selected.
Monitoring Activities:
Policy: DEH staff from the Community Health & Decision Support Division shall conduct inspections of certified needle exchange sites to monitor compliance with state and local laws, DEH rules and regulations, and public health and safety standards at least on annual basis.
Purpose: The purpose of conducting inspections is to maintain public health and safety by: determining whether a needle exchange site is in compliance; determining whether any corrections and/or other adverse action are required; identify any training or other needs; and assure implementation of corrective action and on -going compliance with needle exchange standards.
If you have any comments regarding this program, please contact us by email.