GF needle program to stick around

Following a lengthy discussion the Grand Forks council agreed to keep the Syringe Service Program – but with changes.

Those stipulations include limiting the number of needles handed out to no more than 10. In addition it identifies what the program can distribute to include snacks…disposable containers…test strips for dangerous drugs…and Naloxone.

Council member Danny Weigel initially pushed for reducing the number of syringes offered to five arguing it would bring users in more often for point of contact which is one of the program goals.  “We give them everything they could possibly need to use narcotics.  I don’t know if the City of Grand Forks should provide these items.”

Council member Bret Weber argued in favor of keeping the program as is.  “It is required by our state legislature for the Department of Human Services to create in specific areas and carry out a needle exchange program.  This is not something we just made up on our own.”

Health officials say since the implementation of the program in 2019 there has been a drop in hepatitis C infections and yearly overdoses in the community.

The department to date has provided some 111,000 syringes with an 80% plus return rate.