Syringe Access Programs &
Law Enforcement:
Building Alliances
New York State
Current April 2012
Sharing Stories
Personal
Program
About an encounter
with law enforcement
About SAP
relationships with
law enforcement

Achievement-Based Objectives
Illustrated the interaction SAPs and law
enforcement experience around syringe access
Explored SAP and law enforcement
perspectives that drive strained interactions
Acquired the data supporting and laws
regulating syringe access services
Achievement-Based Objectives
Identified “best practices” for improving
interactions between SAPS and
law enforcement
Discovered and demonstrated existing and new
strategies for improving and/or building a
working relationship between law enforcement
and SAPs
Impact Of Perspective
Thoughts
Actions
Feelings
World Café: Part I
Law Enforcement
Perspective
What might they think
of IDUs?
IDU Perspective
What might they think
of law enforcement?
What are their
What are their personal
professional & personal concerns about law
concerns about IDUs?
enforcement?
What is their role?
World Café: Part II
Law Enforcement
Perspective
How do these
perspectives affect the
way law enforcement
behaves when it deals
with IDUs?
IDU Perspective
How do these
perspectives affect the
way IDUs behave when
they deal with law
enforcement?
World Café: Part III
How do
these
perspectives
affect the
work we do?
Fear: IDUs ↔ The Law
Share needles: 1.5 x more
Inject in a hurry, practice unhygienic injecting,
damage veins, etc.
Don’t “test” strength drug to avoid overdose
Don’t report overdose
Don’t properly discard syringes
Fear: IDUs ↔ The Law
Reduces IDUs attending SAPs syringe access
programs
Don’t collect/carry enough injecting equipment to
meet injecting needs
Displaces IDUs, making them to difficult to reach
Means IDUs don’t access other health services
Fear: IDUs ↔ The Law
Also:
Increases NSI (Needle Stick Injuries) to police
Escalates interactions between IDU & Law
Enforcement
KNOW THE FACTS
Question 1: TRUE or FALSE?
SAPs lead to an increase community
crime rates and drug use.
Syringe Access
drug use
crime rates
Question 2
How many people in the US are NEWLY
infected each year with HIV & HCV due to
syringe & equipment sharing?
A. 10,000 HIV & 5,000 HCV
B. 8,000 HIV & 15,000 HCV
C. 1,000 HIV & 3,000 HCV
D. 4,000 HIV & 9,000 HCV
Syringe Access
risk for HCV
risk for HIV
NY IDUs
HIV Seroprevalence
Don C. Des Jarlais. Beth Israel Medical Center. New York.
Question 3: TRUE or FALSE?
Possession of sterile syringes is legal (in
NYS).
Question 4: TRUE or FALSE?
Possession of used syringes with residue
is legal? (in NYS).
SAP Cards Confirm Membership
Participants receive different coded ID cards;
codes are variations of numbers and letters
A 24-hour verification phone number is on the
back of the ID card.
Programs are anonymous and confidential.
Question 5
The number of syringes that someone
can carry at any one time (in NYS) is:
A. 0
B. 10
C. 100
D. No limit
Question 6: TRUE or FALSE?
It is legal to carry other injecting
equipment and other drug paraphernalia
(in NYS).
Penal Code 220.03 & 220.45
An arrest should not be made if the only
charge is criminal possession of a
hypodermic instrument.
An arrest should not be made for residue
in a used syringe.
NB: Changes to Penal Code/
Awaiting new NYPD Operations Order
Other Equipment
Question 7: TRUE or FALSE?
Anyone over the age of 18 can purchase
syringes at pharmacies without a
prescription (in NYS).
Question 8: TRUE or FALSE?
There is a difference in the legalities
around drug paraphernalia/syringe
possession in New York City and
New York State.
Question 9: TRUE or FALSE?
SAPs increase syringes to be discarded in
public places.
Question 10
What percentage of police officers have
had a needle stick injury (NSI)?
A. 80%
B. 10%
C. 30%
D. 60%
NSI
Question 11: TRUE or FALSE?
There is a way for SAPs and their clients
to report negative interactions with law
enforcement.
Question 12: TRUE or FALSE?
Risk of infection of HCV or HIV through a
needlestick is very high.
Making The Case
Take Care
Out There!
Working Models
Putting it to Work
Prevention
What strategies
can you/the
program/the
client use to
prevent this
scenario?
Response
Evaluation
How can
you/the
program/the
client respond to
this scenario for
a positive
outcome?
How can
you/the
program/the
client know if
the strategies
have an impact?
How can you
monitor events?
Putting it to Work
You
Program
Client
Solutions
Prevention
Response
Evaluation
Contact