Supervisor Jim Desmond

Stop Syringe Services Program

Written by
July 07, 2023

Stop Syringe Services Program

In 2021, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to create a “Harm Reduction Program”. Part of that proposal included a Syringe Services Program, which essentially gives free drug paraphernalia to San Diegans.

I was one of the dissenting votes, primarily because I don't believe enabling drug use will get people the help they need. The majority of people living on our streets are addicted to drugs and alcohol, and promoting drug use will only perpetuate the problem.

The County of San Diego is pursuing a harm reduction program, including syringe services and safer smoking supplies, through the California Department of Public Health. The good news is you can give your input on this ridiculous plan!

This potential program involves, in part, the distribution of free needles and various other drug paraphernalia, and includes:

  • Sterile syringes
  • Personal sharps disposal containers
  • Safer injection and wound care supplies
  • Naloxone
  • Fentanyl test strips
  • Condoms and lube packets with instructions
  • Educational information on HIV, STDs, and viral hepatitis transmission prevention
  • Safer smoking supplies (including pipe covers, mouthpieces, foil sheets, clean glass stems, and bubblers)

While the intention behind this approach may seem well-meaning, I firmly believe that it will ultimately do more harm than good to neighborhoods and communities. By providing drug paraphernalia, in large part to homeless individuals, we are essentially enabling and normalizing dangerous drug use, exacerbating addiction issues, and potentially putting our community at an increased risk.

Please join me in opposing this proposal, or components of it, for North County. Your input and active participation can make a critical difference in thwarting this harmful strategy and safeguarding our communities. 

Fill out the following form to express your opposition and provide valuable input. (Note: SSP stands for Syringe Services Program)

We've heard concerns about this plan from many North County residents and elected officials. I have asked County staff to work with the cities and find solutions and programs that work for each community. And, importantly, identifying those programs and services that don’t work for communities.

By taking a stand against harmful approaches, we can encourage the County to explore more effective and compassionate solutions to address homelessness and addiction such as rehabilitation, mental health support, and affordable housing.

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Recent responses

  • I am completely against the Harm Reduction Program. I imagine this idea is suggested by well meaning people who want to keep the drug addicts from getting sick from a communicable disease or infection. Please. Help them to STOP their addition. THAT will protect them. I do not want my tax money helping the addicts to continue their addiction at my expense.! Either they accept help or they die
    of a communicable disease. Their choice.
  • Please do not implement this supposed “Harm Reduction” program! Since when is giving someone more of their problem a solution for ending their problem? This idea has already shown to be disastrous in communities where it’s been implemented and everyone knows it. Stop the madness!
    These people need rehabilitation. There is nothing compassionate about putting them deeper into their problems.
  • Harm reduction is not about aiding the dangerous behavior, it’s about meeting the addict where they are at and seeking out ways to reduce the behavior. As a county social worker I do not support this “version” of harm reduction.
  • Enabling drug use is not only extremely perverse, but it is completely facilitating the perpetuation and inevitable demise of the addicted; by any measure, this policy is substantially harmful to our society.
  • I strongly oppose the SSP. This is not the kind of program that will help anyone. Our streets are crawling with homeless, drug addicted people that need reform, not needles or anything else that will enable their drug use. It is a waste (literally) of our tax money. Come on CA – we’ve got to do better than this.
  • We do not need the city of San Diego distributing free needles and various other drug paraphernalia to the community enabling drug use throughout our beautiful city. A BIG NO FOR ME!
  • Please vote against the harm reduction program. I don’t support enabling addicts. Help them get off of drugs.
  • It is hard to imagine that anyone with any intellect could possibly support this wild and crazy program. Giving drug paraphernalia to drug attic’s. Makes no sense if anyone is dealing in reality. Why are we doing this or even thinking about doing this? Please return to your senses and gain some sanity state legislatures.
  • Supervisor Desmond,
    Please urge the Board of Supervisors to oppose the Harm Reduction Act. It is absurd to pass out condoms, syringes and crack pipes,enabling drug abusers to get high. Even worse is that taxpayers have to pay for this absurdity.

    We live in Escondido and are pleased our city council opposed this act unanimously. Tell the state NO THANKS!
  • The needle exchange has been around for years longer than this Harm Reduction program. And it’s probably not going anywhere.
  • I guess the author of this article isn’t thinking about the broad spectrum of consequences and diseases that would spread without the needle exchange and condoms give away.
  • This HARM Reduction program is not an answer to drug problems. It will make our homeless and drug problem worse. We don’t need to become another San Francisco. Please do not let this program come to San Diego