North County leaders reject drug paraphernalia distribution in San Diego.

Leaders Oppose Needle Exchange Programs in North ‍County

SAN⁣ DIEGO—San Diego County Supervisor ⁣Jim Desmond and five⁢ city leaders sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom Aug. 30​ in opposition to existing and proposed needle exchange and drug paraphernalia distribution programs ⁣in North County.

Along with‌ Mr. Desmond,‌ who represents District 5, the letter was signed by Mayors⁢ Keith Blackburn ⁢of ⁣Carlsbad, Rebecca ⁣Jones of‌ San Marcos, Dane⁤ White of⁤ Escondido and John Franklin of Vista. Ryan Keim, Oceanside deputy⁢ mayor, also signed the letter.

The letter was also ​sent to the state Department of Public Health.

It states that the county ⁢government “has recently made it clear that‌ it ⁢intends to distribute thousands of needles using state funds under the guise of a ‘harm reduction’ program. The only thing these programs do is further harm our communities stricken with substance abuse disorders.”

According to Mr.‌ Desmond’s office, ⁤the county several months ago applied to the state public ​health department ⁢for funding to be used toward harm-reduction efforts.

According to the letter sent‍ Wednesday, the program “admits⁤ outright not ⁣all needles distributed will be collected. Needles are‍ already commonly found in our parks,‍ beaches, waterways, canyons, and sidewalks.”

“Within one year, as ⁢many⁣ as 500,000⁤ needles could ⁢be distributed in our region, without​ any mechanism in place to compel users into treatment,” the leaders stated. “By giving ⁤out needles and drug paraphernalia, we are enabling and implicitly ⁣condoning illegal drug use without accountability or requirement for treatment.”

The county’s Health and Human Services Department did not immediately​ reply to a request for comment.

The leaders​ said they wanted to⁣ help ‍communities deal with the drug‌ issue by providing overdose prevention education; Naloxone, ​a drug that reverses overdoses; and behavioral health and social support services.

“While we understand and appreciate the attempt to help our vulnerable populations,​ needle exchange⁤ and associated‍ programs ⁢are detrimental to neighborhoods ‍and communities, and we are united against‌ the implementation⁤ of these programs in⁣ North County,” according to the letter.

Mr. Desmond and the‍ five ⁤city leaders asked the ‌county, state, and nonprofits “to refrain⁣ from funding or providing needle-exchange services in our cities and communities.”

“Instead, we ask for your help ⁢in addressing the root causes of substance abuse, by‍ providing prevention⁤ resources, education ‌and treatment ⁤programs to ‍encourage healthy change,” according⁢ to the ‍letter. “We insist on‌ providing a hand up,​ not handouts that perpetuate⁣ illegal drug use. Together, we ‍can‍ help put people on a path to ⁢recovery and ⁤help end ​of ⁣the cycle of⁤ abuse.”