A legislative committee today heard testimony on a bill to limit needle and syringe exchange programs to one new needle or syringe for every used one brought in. But advocates said the proposal is a step backwards.
In their testimony, advocates said the bill will not reduce needle and syringe waste in Maine but will harm the people that use exchange programs.
Dr. Puthiery Va, director of Maine CDC, testified for the agency's opposition of the bill.
"We do believe it may inadvertently create greater health risks for an already highly vulnerable population," she said. "Evidence indicates that limiting the supply of sterile syringes alone does not eliminate the presence of syringe waste and can actually have a negative impact on effectiveness of syringe service programs."
Va said a lack of sterile syringes can lead to people reusing or sharing syringes, increasing the risk of disease. She pointed to Maine's already high number of cases of Hepatitis A and C, and a cluster of HIV cases in Penobscot county.
Doug Dunbar of Penobscot County Cares said exchange programs also help people access treatment for substance use disorders.
"Going backward to a one-to-one exchange is known through research and years of evidence known to be harmful, and we can't risk that in Penobscot County, we already have an outbreak or a cluster of HIV cases," he said.
Limiting exchange programs won't reduce needle and syringe waste, Dunbar said, but will limit access to these key programs.
"But if we limit, go back to one to one, we are going to jeopardize the health and well-being of really an untold number of people," he said.
It was a sentiment echoed by Bridget Rauscher, director of public health for the city of Portland.
"The residents and businesses of Portland do not want syringes on the sidewalks, in parks, and near schools, we can all agree on that," she said. "However, we do not believe mandating a restrictive one-for-one exchange is the best way to reduce syringe waste."
She highlighted other ways to reduce waste- like Portland's syringe buyback pilot program- which in just a few weeks has seen an increase in returned syringes and a decrease in waste in the community.
