Pete Buttigieg on Syringe Access

“Among the key steps to addressing this joint epidemic are: community based substance use prevention programs that address the social and community determinants of SUD, appropriate monitoring of prescribing practices of clinicians, employing a full range of harm reduction services, including removing restrictions on the use of federal funds for syringe services programs, broad availability of naloxone for overdose reversal — including distribution to users through syringe services programs and community availability on the same level as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), access to comprehensive health care services from SUD disorder treatment that includes MAT and treatment for hepatitis C by assuring broader adoption of Medicaid expansion and through existing networks of safety-net providers, and a recognition that we also need to more broadly invest in social support services that should surround MAT, akin to the services available for people living with HIV under the Ryan White program.”

“To expand harm reduction services we will remove legislative and regulatory restrictions on the use of federal funds for syringe service programs. Under current law, local authorities have to jump through too many hoops to use federal dollars for operation of SSPs and may not use these funds for the purchase of syringes. These restrictions hamper state and local responses, both because they limit resources and because they convey a negative message about the value of these programs, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that they can prevent transmission of HIV and hepatitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would also work with states to remove any criminal liability for those participating in SSPs.”