NC safer syringe initiative annual report [2020-2021]

1ЦР NC Safer Syringe Initiative Annual Report, 2020-2021 Syringe services programs (SSPs) are an evidence-based strategy to reduce overdose deaths, reduce transmission of blood-borne pathogens, including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV), and connect participants to treatment and care. SSPs provide a variety of social and health services for people who use drugs, often serving as the primary avenue to meet their health needs. They offer sterile syringes and disposal services to remove biohazards from the community, reduce sharing and reuse of syringes, provide wound care, distribute naloxone, and offer many other wraparound services. This report summarizes data reported from July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 to the Division of Public Health (DPH) from all registered SSPs in North Carolina about their services. North Carolina law (G.S. 90-113.27) allows for the legal establishment of hypodermic syringe and needle exchange programs.1 During the 2020-2021 reporting year, programs continued to see many challenges to service delivery such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, increases in fatal and non-fatal overdoses, and supply shortages. SSPs have been at the frontlines of addressing these intersecting epidemics by scaling up their naloxone distribution, expanding the reach and scope of their programs, and helping participants access COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. In addition to reporting increasing overdose trends, programs have also reported an increased need for their services, seeing more participants than they did before the pandemic. At the same time, SSPs have seen shortages in traditional funding streams, such as foundations, available for harm reduction services. ’ Visit httos://tinvuri. com/NCSSPLaw NC Counties Served or Reached as of June 30, 2021 There are a total of 42 registered Syringe Services Programs directly serving 56 counties and 1 federally-recognized tribe across North Carolina. Residents from 27 additional counties and 3 states (GA, SC, and TN) were also served by these SSPs. Ш Directly served V Additional counties reached For a continuously updated list of registered SSPs, visit https ://tinvurl.com/NCSSIList Of these 42 SSPs, 27 operate using a fixed-site location, 24 operate using mobile services, 22 operate using peer-based distribution, 12 operate in an integrated space, and 21 operate using delivery services. Note that many SSPs utilize more than one program model. For more information about program model types, visit https ://www.ncdhhs.aov/divisions/public-health/north-carolina-safer-svrinae-initiative/svrinae-exchanae-models. Participant Numbers, 2020-2021 The number of unique individuals served across all programs was 26,596 -- an increase of 73% since the last reporting year. Programs had 82,071 total contacts* with participants in the 2020-2021 reporting year. This represents an increase of 32% from the previous year. In 2020-2021 , programs provided participants with a total of 1,973 referrals to substance use treatment. Individuals Served and Total Contacts by SSPs Participants ■ Unique individuals served «Total number of contacts 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 *A contact can be any interaction with a participant that provides connection to harm reduction or overdose prevention services. Source: Annual Reporting Data , submitted by registered North Carolina Safer Syringe Initiative programs, as of September 2021. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES www.ncdhhs.gov/opioids Page 1 of 3