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GF Council Questions Syringe Program

By Doug Barrett Dec 19, 2023 | 1:04 PM

The Grand Forks council fell one vote short of discontinuing its Syringe Service Program on Monday. Since being launched in 2019 the program has assisted 264 participants.

Grand Forks health officials say the goal is to reduce the transmission of Hepatitis C through drug use…reduce mortality of opioid overdose… and provide connections to resources and recovery.

In addition to syringes the program provides sharps containers… cookers…Narcan…bandages…ointment…drug test strips… nourishment…and condoms. The cost of a package is estimated at $21.35 cents – with federal and private sources funding the bill.

Supporters say the program does not promote injection drug use. Council member Rebecca Osowski says she’s not so sure. “I find this program to be very enabling almost.”

Since the program started the department has provided some 111,000 syringes with an 80% return rate.

A motion to end the program was rejected on a 4-3 vote.

Picture: GF staff rendering

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