Portland’s needle exchange program stands alone in keeping strict rules
With overdose deaths on record pace during the pandemic, city officials are urged to take advantage of state waivers intended to ensure that drug users have access to clean needles and overdose reversal drugs.
Share
Advocates in the recovery community are urging Portland city officials to end restrictive policies that make it harder for intravenous drug users to get clean needles and support services during the pandemic.
The city is the only organization in the state to not ease restrictions and expand services under an executive order issued by Gov. Janet Mills in April. That order allows state-certified syringe services programs to provide clients with a larger number of clean syringes to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.