Orange County syringe exchange organizers to hold town hall in Anaheim on Thursday

Organizers of the Orange County Needle Exchange Program will hold a public meeting Thursday, Aug. 23, in Anaheim to share information and respond to residents’ concerns about their proposal to operate a mobile service starting in September.

They’ll likely face tough questions, considering Orange County is suing to block the program and Anaheim, Costa Mesa and Orange – three of the four cities where the mobile service plans stops – have joined the lawsuit. The remaining city, Santa Ana, hasn’t taken legal action, but officials have expressed opposition to the syringe exchange. And, Newport Beach officials have said they planned to file their own suit because the proposed Costa Mesa stop is near their border.

The Anaheim town hall meeting, scheduled at 6 p.m. at the Downtown Community Center, is open to everyone with an interest in the needle exchange, said Mahan Naiem, a member of the nonprofit program’s steering committee. Organizers hoped to hold meetings in all four cities, but it’s been a challenge to find and book affordable venues with enough space on a tight time schedule, he said.

The group may offer online town hall events so it can go ahead with a planned start early next month. A hearing on the county’s lawsuit is set for Sept. 14.

Needle exchange supporters say the programs benefit public health by reducing the risk of HIV and hepatitis outbreaks, and because program volunteers offer other services such as vaccinations and information about drug treatment programs.

Opponents say the Orange County program, which operated in the Santa Ana Civic Center until January, resulted in used syringes being discarded in and around public buildings and city workers getting pricked.

 

If you go

When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23

Where: Anaheim Downtown Community Center, 250 E. Center St., Anaheim

Information: Call 714-794-5643 or visit www.ocnep.org