26B-7-117. Syringe exchange and education.
| (1) |
The following may operate a syringe exchange program in the state to prevent the transmission of disease and reduce morbidity and mortality among individuals who inject drugs, and those individuals’ contacts:
Terms Used In Utah Code 26B-7-117- Local health department: means the same as that term is defined in Section 26A-1-102. See Utah Code 26B-1-102
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
| (a) |
a government entity, including:
| (ii) |
a local health department; or |
| (iii) |
a local substance abuse authority, as defined in Section 26B-5-101; |
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| (b) |
a nongovernment entity, including:
| (i) |
a nonprofit organization; or |
| (ii) |
a for-profit organization; or |
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| (c) |
any other entity that complies with Subsections (2) and (4). |
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| (2) |
An entity operating a syringe exchange program in the state shall:
| (a) |
facilitate the exchange of an individual’s used syringe for one or more new syringes in sealed sterile packages; |
| (b) |
ensure that a recipient of a new syringe is given verbal and written instruction on:
| (i) |
methods for preventing the transmission of blood-borne diseases, including hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus; and |
| (ii) |
options for obtaining:
| (A) |
services for the treatment of a substance use disorder; |
| (B) |
testing for a blood-borne disease; and |
| (C) |
an opiate antagonist; and |
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| (c) |
report annually to the department the following information about the program’s activities:
| (i) |
the number of individuals who have exchanged syringes; |
| (ii) |
the number of used syringes exchanged for new syringes; and |
| (iii) |
the number of new syringes provided in exchange for used syringes. |
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| (3) |
No later than October 1, 2017, and every two years thereafter, the department shall report to the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Interim Committee on:
| (a) |
the activities and outcomes of syringe programs operating in the state, including:
| (i) |
the number of individuals who have exchanged syringes; |
| (ii) |
the number of used syringes exchanged for new syringes; |
| (iii) |
the number of new syringes provided in exchange for used syringes; |
| (iv) |
the impact of the programs on blood-borne infection rates; and |
| (v) |
the impact of the programs on the number of individuals receiving treatment for a substance use disorder; |
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| (b) |
the potential for additional reductions in the number of syringes contaminated with blood-borne disease if the programs receive additional funding; |
| (c) |
the potential for additional reductions in state and local government spending if the programs receive additional funding; |
| (d) |
whether the programs promote illicit use of drugs; and |
| (e) |
whether the programs should be continued, continued with modifications, or terminated. |
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Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 308, 2023 General Session
