Lindsay J. Pierce, M.Ed.Chief, Infectious Disease Prevention, Investigation and Care Services Section

NASTAD Prevention & Care Technical Assistance MeetingJuly 21, 2017

Threading the Needle:

NH’s Journey to Establish

Syringe Service Program Law

Threading the Needle:

NH’s Journey to Establish

Syringe Service Program Law

NH & The Drug Crisis

Syringe Access

Live Free or Die

Study Commission

SB 234

Next steps

Small, rural state

2nd highest overdose death rate

Treatment access challenges

Political process led by Citizens Legislature

3rd largest legislative body in the world (400 members in House)

$200/two year term plus daily travel

Since 2001, NH Law RSA 318:52-C

Legal purchase of up to 10 syringes at any one time

Must be 18 years of age or older

Pharmacy participation is optional

Pharmacists are not required to participate

HB 1681 (send to study commission)

Exempts residual amounts of controlled substances in hypodermic syringes and needles from the provision of the controlled drug act (Decrimalization)

Authorizes persons other than pharmacists to dispense hypodermic syringes and needles and allows them to be sold in retail establishments other than pharmacies

Authorizes the operation of syringe exchange programs in NH

Summer 2016

Study national standards for best practices for syringe service programs

Discuss the feasibility of implementing syringe service programs in NH

Identify recommended solutions, both legislative and non-legislative

Review any other matter that commission deems relevant to its objective

Final Report

HB and SB 234 were introduced during 2017 session

Compromise made to adopt the SB

DPHS testified, but did not take a position

Exempts residual amounts of controlled substances in hypodermic syringes and needles from the provision of the controlled drug act (Affirmative Defense)

Authorizes persons other than pharmacists to dispense hypodermic syringes and needles and allows them to be sold in retail establishments other than pharmacies

Authorizes the operation of syringe exchange programs in NH

Next Steps

Created Webpage https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/bchs/std/syringe-service.htm

Registration form

Data collection tool

Development of rules

Continued and new partnerships

Lessons Learned

Role & Goal

Partnership

Compromise

Members of the Study Commission

Krista Morris

Elizabeth Daly

Marcella Bobinskey

Lindsay J. Pierce, M.Ed.

603-271-4481Lindsay.pierce@dhhs.nh.gov

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov