On July 1, a new law will clear the way for needle exchange programs in Florida, allowing counties to offer clean syringes in exchange for used needles -- at taxpayer expense.
At first, that might seem like a questionable way to spend your money.
But a needle exchange pilot program in the Miami-Dade area was so effective, even the state’s conservative Legislature and governor have given it the green light.
“I went through it in 1999,” said Andy Seal, who has battled his own demons when it comes to drug addiction. Now living in St. Petersburg, he sees people in the area using intravenous drugs, occasionally sharing needles -- and possibly diseases like hepatitis and HIV.
“They need to do something,” said Seal, “It’s pretty bad here.”
This past week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill allowing counties around the state to create needle exchange programs which hand out clean syringes in exchange for used ones -- no questions asked.
“I’m skeptical about this,” said Hillsborough Commissioner Sandy Murman, who cautiously supports a pilot program after seeing the effectiveness of the program in South Florida.
It not only slowed the spread of disease, said Murman, but it also gave health professionals an opportunity to counsel addicts they would not have had otherwise.
“It decreases the overdose deaths,” said Murman, “We know that, because if they’re coming in for needles, that means that we have a shot at educating them and referring them for treatment.”
The program isn’t perfect. Fresh needles don’t help battle addiction.
“They do stay disease-free, but they still are high on the drug they’re shooting in their arm,” said Susan Block, who has been living on the streets of St. Petersburg for years.
Still, the idea has reduced prison and emergency room expenses for taxpayers and helped to slow a public health threat.
“It’s a really good idea. It’s going to stop the diseases here,” said Seal.
“This is a tool that we need in our toolbox,” said Murman. “It’s just a tool.”
The needle exchange would likely take place through each county’s individual health department.
Decisions about whether to start the program and how much money to commit to them are questions both Hillsborough and Pinellas county officials plan to tackle at meetings in July.
Florida is one of the nation’s top spots for opioid abuse and overdoses.
The state is among less than two dozen which have now legally authorized the needle exchange programs.
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