COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an effort to curb an uptick in overdoses and overdose deaths on the west side of Columbus, a syringe service program is planning to expand into the area.
Safe Point is a joint effort by Equitas Health and Columbus Public Health and provides clean syringes to people using drugs. Health advocates say providing clean needles helps prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C and eventually reduces the number of overdoses.
“The research does show that SSPs do not cause or increase drug use. They do not cause increased crime and folks are more likely to engage in treatment than those who do not use a syringe service program,” said Troy Miller, associate director of prevention programs for Equitas Health. “All of the locations we have chosen are chosen strategically because we look at the data of where people are when they’re overdosing and where people are that need the service.”
Safe Point is planning to expand its mobile service into the west side after talking last month with the Greater Hilltop Commission. It already operates its mobile service in other locations in the city that have experienced increased issues with overdoses.
It’s set up so that people using drugs must return a syringe in order to get a clean one. This gives Safe Point team members the chance to intervene and offer addiction services.
Critics of syringe programs worry about needles ending up on the streets and promoting drug use more than preventing it.
“Common misconceptions are that this increases drug use or needles on the street,” said Miller. “What we know from 30 years of research is that syringe service programs reduce the amount of harm caused in communities from needles being on the street to protecting first responders.”
Last year, Safe Point safely disposed of 842,740 syringes. The program also distributed 21,092 doses of Naloxone. Miller said they were able to confirm those doses saved at least 2,346 lives.
There’s no set date on when Safe Point’s mobile unit will make its first appearance in the Hilltop and other areas of the west side. Miller said they are still working with partner agencies on a location and any other details that need to be figured out.