The Health Streets pilot program includes outreach to injection drug users
Responding to what it called a significant increase in heroin and other injection drug use, the Multnomah County Health Department has installed two large sharps containers along Portland’s Eastbank to encourage the proper disposal of used syringes.
The containers – located under Burnside Bridge and on the Eastbank Esplanade near Salmon Street – are part of the city and county’s 12-month pilot project called Healthy Streets. The pilot replicates similar programs in other cities to safely dispose of used syringes and promote harm reduction among injection drug users.
The pilot program includes outreach to injection drug users, including trainings and the distribution of the opiate-reversing drug naloxone, according to the department. County workers have been doing outreach for weeks in advance of the bin placements.
Used needles can spread HIV, hepatitis and other disease. A biohazard company has been contracted to empty the bins regularly.
In its announcement, the county health department said, “there has been a significant increase in heroin and other injection use in Portland as part of the overall increase in opiate misuse.”
The county said it hopes the bins will serve people who, for reasons of disability, mental illness or personal safety, do not access existing local syringe exchange programs.
“This is part of a comprehensive public health strategy to reduce the harm of drug addiction in our community,’’ said Dr. Paul Lewis, Multnomah County health officer. “This will help protect the community and at the same time, engage users. Engagement is the first step toward recovery.’’
The pilot is a partnership between the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Parks and Recreation and the Multnomah County Health Department.
