(Jun 01, 2023) Allegheny County Delegation
HARRISBURG, June 1 – State Reps. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny, and Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, introduced legislation today ( H.B. 1245 ) that would increase access to syringe services programs throughout Pennsylvania. The legislators said SSPs supply access to clean syringes and other medical supplies, dispose of needles, provide referrals to drug treatment, test for diseases, make naloxone available, and furnish other health services. These programs are part of a harm reduction approach to addressing the opioid epidemic. While SSPs currently run in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, SSPs are illegal throughout the rest of Pennsylvania under current law. The legislation would allow local service providers to establish SSPs and bring in federal dollars to fund these lifesaving programs. “SSPs are evidence-based public health policies proven to save lives and prevent the spread of communicable disease, but they are illegal to operate in the majority of the counties across this Commonwealth.,” Innamorato said. “With the opioid settlement money coming to the state and localities, we need to ensure that public health agencies have all the data-backed tools to keep people who use drugs safe and connected to support networks.” “I’m hoping this legislation follows the same path as my bill to legalize fentanyl test strips which became law last year,” added Struzzi, who authored Act 111 of 2022 . “Pennsylvania’s rates Read more