A local group has filed an application to start a county-wide Mobile Needle Distribution Program. The Harm Reduction Coalition Of Santa Cruz County wants to start the program, and Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills and the group known as Take Back Santa Cruz are opposing the program. At least one concern is that because no needles are exchanged, more needles will be left behind (at locations where they are passed out). The new program is designed to be “needs based”, which means that a participant can receive as many syringes as they want.
