HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - NON AGENDA City Council Meeting Correspondence
IIINli�l �.' 3/6/2018
Item Non- RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE SATNA ANA NEEDLE EXCHANGE
No. Agenda PROGRAM
Item
Date of Name Representative of In Favor of In opposition,,,
Correspondence RA*., of
1 3/6/2018 Jeff LeTourmeau Democratic Party of Orange County
*RA-Recommended Action
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 Page 1 of 1
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
A. LIOF ORANGE CO kJ N
Resolution #18-07
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE REINSTATEMENT
OF THE SANTA ANA NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, needle exchange programs have repeatedly been proven to be effective, low
cost public health methods for reducing infectious disease transmission as well as an
effective means of used needle retrieval and Orange County has the 4' highest rate of HIV
in California and nearly 1000 cases of hepatitis C and Santa Ana has the highest rate of
HIV in Orange County, nearly twice the county average whereby 15.1% of new infections
are caused by injection drug use; and
WHEREAS, the goal of OCNEP, a State authorized program, is to reduce the transmission
of infectious diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis C by providing sterile injection and safer
sex supplies, on-site HIV and Hepatitis C testing as well as referrals to drug abuse
treatment services and housing for the homeless; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Ana City Council recently discontinued its Memorandum of
Understanding with OCNEP, eliminating these essential harm reduction services,
increasing medical, law enforcement and other public costs and increasing mortality and
leaving residents with no viable options;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Orange County does
hereby call for immediate negotiations between all relevant Santa Ana and Orange County
community health partners in an effort to re-institute these essential services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Orange County urges that
these negotiations include additional options such as multiple designated safe distribution,
education and use centers which are culturally sensitive and specifically address the
needs of LGBTQ community and which will expand services beyond the Civic Center
population.
Submitted by Jeff LeTourneau, DPOC North Vice-Chair and Mohammed Aly. Executive
Director Orange County Poverty Alleviation Coalition
Adopted by the Democratic Party of Orange County
At its February 26, 2018 Central Committee Meeting
1916 W Choprnan Avenue • Suite Li, Orancje, CA 92868 • 714 634 OEMS (-33673
Info mocriernocrats ory • www.ocdemocrats.org
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