As billions of dollars from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors go to state and local governments, efforts to reduce the epidemic’s harm can be hamstrung by drug paraphernalia laws. Health authorities say distributing clean syringes to users can save lives, but in states like Pennsylvania, it may be illegal.
These states have laws that either classify syringes as drug paraphernalia or do not explicitly authorize syringe service programs (SSPs), effectively prohibiting the establishment and operation of needle exchange services
These states have laws that either classify syringes as drug paraphernalia or do not explicitly authorize syringe service programs (SSPs), effectively prohibiting the establishment and operation of needle exchange services