The volunteer harm reduction group, Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County, was authorized by the California Department of Public Health to run its own needs-based syringe services program.
Now that the group is approved, it will be able to offer syringe and other harm reduction services directly to the public instead of operating as a secondary exchange through the county. The $400,000 grant will also allow for three full time team members, and a stipend for other workers that were previously helping as volunteers.
The program received opposition from some in the community that argue the program does not have enough medical oversight and could lead to more needles left behind.
