According to an overwhelming body of evidence, syringe services programs not only reduce the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases, but also save money, minimize the risk of needlestick injuries to law enforcement officials, and help give people who inject drugs access to vital overdose prevention and drug treatment services.
However, under current law, local and state public health authorities are not allowed to use federal funds for syringe services programs. Lifting that ban would end federal overreach that stands in the way of local officials using federal funds to implement evidence-based programs to protect the health of their communities and keep law enforcement and firefighters safe to do their jobs.
As your constituent, I urge you to support lifting the ban on the use of federal funding for these valuable programs.