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City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
Document Description: This is a copy of the Needles in Public Spaces Reports sent to the Santa Cruz City Council and County Board of Supervisors.
Document: March 8, 2014 Email sent to the City Council and the Board of Supervisors
Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report – 2,595 needles found in 15 months
To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council
Please find the Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. This is a log of citizen reports of needles found in public spaces for the last 15 months. The log was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
Keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem; Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or
decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be
identified for City/County cleanup; and to Give the community a place to log their finds
NIPS finds for this reporting period
For this reporting period (2/8/20143/8/2014), 329 needles found in public spaces were logged.
Since the inception of the new Syringe Services Program (4/30/13), 1,616 needles have been found in public areas. The monthly needle counts are: April 30th May 8th 63 (9 days, not a full month), June 8th 141 needles; July 8th 105 needles; August 8th 133 needles; September 8th 217 needles; October 8th 141 needles; December 8th – 143 needles; January 8th – 126 needles; February 8th153 needles;
March 8th 329
Hot spot NIPS locations:
Neighborhood around SSP (Emeline), Evergreen Cemetery, Harvey West Park, Seabright Beach
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Of Special Note:
Evergreen Cemetery: 281 Needles (mostly unused, some used), were found at Evergreen Cemetery. Photos are attached (422N001, 422N002).
Needles Found on Little League CleanUp Day: On Saturday, February 22nd, the Santa Cruz Clean Team (group of 8 volunteers) hosted "Little League CleanUp Day" at Harvey West Park to get ready for the upcoming baseball season. Clean Team volunteers found 2 needles, one of which was right next to a baseball field. (Photo 444N001, attached). On the same day, another citizen (not involved in the cleanup effort) was walking through Friendship Garden in Harvey West Park after attending a memorial, when she found a needle just 15 feet away from a large party with children. (Photo 445N001).
Close Call: A citizen reported that her daughter was almost stuck with a needle that had been thrown into her truck on Cayuga Street. (Report 446N).
Needles and Drug Paraphernalia in Neighborhood Around SSP: Citizens who live in the neighborhood near the SSP have been complaining not only of finding needles, but of finding other drugrelated trash (needle caps, water capsules, cookers, wipes, tie off belt, etc.). (For an example, see photos for Report 458N). These citizens are cleaning up the debris themselves.
Needle Finds by SOS (Save Our Shores): SOS reports that their volunteers have found 22 needles this year, and 1,144 since 2007. SOS's data is separate and not included in our log. There may be some overlap between finds recorded in SOS's log and our NIPS log.
Support for AB 1893: Last month Assemblymember Mark Stone introduced Assembly Bill 1893 into the California Legislature. One component of this bill would require that manufacturers provide a punctureproof container for proper disposal with any purchase of needles. The Needles Solutions Team will be writing a letter in support of this legislation.
Mandatory TakeBack Ordinance: AB 1893 unfortunately does not contain a provision for takebacks by local pharmacies. In January of this year, Tulare County enacted a mandatory takeback ordinance. The Needles Solutions Team would support the County Board of Supervisors in enacting a similar ordinance.
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
Media Coverage of Needles Found in Public Spaces
2/10/14: KSBW8 news: needles in Santa Cruzhttp://www.ksbw.com/news/centralcalifornia/santacruz/drugneedlesclosesantacruzbeach/244156822/10/14: KION: 281 needles found in Evergreen Cemetery: http://www.kionrightnow.com/news/localnews/SantaCruzBoardOFSupervisorstoDiscussNeedleProgram//23047192/24404396//prqxrh//index.html2/10/14: KIONhttp://www.kionrightnow.com/news/localnews/100NeedlesFoundinOneMonthinSantaCruz//23047192/24404334//at21go//index.html2/11/14: KSBW8: 6pm news2/11/14 Santa Cruz Sentinel: Needle Exchange Debate Stirs Board http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/santacruz/ci_25117857/needleexchangedebatestirsboard2/11/14: KSBW8: Supervisors Vote 41 on Drug Needle Public Safety Reporthttp://www.ksbw.com/news/centralcalifornia/santacruz/santacruzcountysupervisorsvote41ondrugneedlepublicsafetyreport/244224642/11/14: Ethan Bearman show and blog: http://podcast.ethanbearman.com/kscopresentsethanbearmanfebruary112014/2/14/14: As you see it: Needle Exchanges Benefit Public http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/letters/ci_25137028/youseeitfeb142014needleexchanges?source=nav
2/25/14: Santa Cruz Sentinel: As You See it: What Needle Problem? http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_25219301/youseeitfeb252014debaclehistory2/26/14: Santa Cruz Sentinel: As you See it: We Have a Needle and Downtown Problem http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/letters/ci_25227963/youseeitfeb262014sentinellucky2/27/14: Santa Cruz Sentinel: As You See It: Fardette Has Worked to Make Change http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/letters/ci_25235691/youseeitfeb272014fardettehas?IADID=Searchwww.santacruzsentinel.comwww.santacruzsentinel.com2/14/14: Name Dropping – Keeping it Cleanhttp://www.santacruzsentinel.com/news/ci_25153365/justinedacostanamedroppingkeepingitclean3/2/14 Opinion: That Syringe Problem? Santa Cruz Needs an SIF http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_25255900/tonynewmanthatsyringeproblemsantacruzneeds
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
Needle Counts
2,595 needles found in 15 monthsNumber of needle sticks 6 people (3 were children)Best regards Needle Solutions Team
Document: February 8, 2014 Email sent to the City Council and the Board of Supervisors
Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report – 2,266 needles found in 14 months
To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council
Please find the Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. This is a log of citizen reports of needles found in public spaces for the last 14 months. The log was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
Keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem; Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be
identified for City/County cleanup; and to Give the community a place to log their finds
NIPS finds for this reporting period
For this reporting period (1/8/20142/8/2014), 153 needles found in public spaces were logged.
Since the inception of the new Syringe Services Program (4/30/13), 1287 needles have been found in public areas. The monthly needle counts are: April 30th May 8th 63 (9 days, not a full month), June 8th 141 needles; July 8th 105 needles; August 8th 133 needles; September 8th 217 needles; October 8th 141 needles; December 8th – 143 needles; January 8th – 126 needles; February 8th153 needles
Hot spot NIPS locations:
Neighborhood around the SSP (1080 Emeline Street), Seabright Beach, Rodeo Gulch, Wooded area behind Blue Ball Park in Soquel, Along the levee, Fair Avenue/Swift Street Area, Area around Encinal
Of Special Note:
Beach finds were up this reporting period, including It's Beach, Seabright Beach
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
(See attached photos 384N001006 and 398N001), Wind and Sea, and Twin Lakes Beach.
Children were present or nearby during at least 9 different finds, including three incidents where children were engaging in community projects. One incident involved a Life Lab class pulling up ice plants in Lighthouse Field as part of a restoration project. (Report 405N photo attached). Two others involved a group of Middle School boys coordinating twice with Save Our Shores to clean up Twin Lakes Beach. (Reports 390N and 414N).
Pharmacy Survey:
Our February 6, 2014 telephone survey revealed that only two Santa Cruz pharmacies (RiteAid on Soquel Avenue, and Westside Pharmacy on Mission Street) currently sell needles without a prescription to nondiabetics (we are not counting Costco, as they sell only to members and require completion of an extensive questionnaire). All other pharmacies in Santa Cruz stated that they have stopped this practice.
Marking of Needles
Thank you for contacting manufacturers concerning the possibility of marking needles for the purpose of tracking where they are coming from. We suggest also contacting the Washington DC Commission of Public Health, as their Code mandates that their needles be marked: http://doh.dc.gov/node/137922.
Kiosks:
Thank you to County Health for working with us in getting in additional needle kiosks at several “hot spot” locations. We are hopeful this will reduce the number of inappropriately discarded needles at those locations. The Leveelies did report to us that a kiosk was broken apart downtown. We are uncertain as to whether or not that has been repaired. (Attached Photo 402N001)
Accounting of Needles Found in Public Spaces:
In its Response to the Public Safety Task Force's Recommendations, the County recommends creating “one organized and consolidated operated system to maintain the accounting of needles found in public spaces.” The Needles Solutions Team is happy to continue to document needle finds in our NIPS Log. However, we would like to capture as many needle finds as we can; to that end, we are asking the County to provide its data with regard to needle finds by County workers. We will also be doing an outreach to local businesses and landscapers in the near future to encourage them to report finds.
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
Public Safety Task Force Recommendations:
We continue our support of the Public Safety Task Force's Recommendations. Thank you to Supervisors Coonerty, McPherson and Friend for acknowledging the “consequences” of the SSP at the 1/28/14 Board meeting, and committing to balance these problems with the public health reasons the County cites for the SSP. Thank you also for considering a true onetoone count of needles returned a nowrecovering drug addict has informed us that addicts have been filling their sharps containers with objects other than needles before bringing them in to be weighed.
Media Coverage of Needles Found in Public Spaces
1/26/14: KION Central Coast News: Blue Ball Park Clean Up (29 needles found)
1/31/14: KION Central Coast News: Rodeo Gulch Clean Up (35 needles found)
2/5/14: KION Central Coast News: Follow Up to Rodeo Gulch/35 needles found story
2/2/14: Santa Cruz Sentinel, As You See It: Report Needles Found in Public Spaces
2/5/14: Santa Cruz Sentinel Editorial: Nothing New About Heroin Epidemic
Needle Counts
2266 needles found in 14 months
Number of needle sticks 6 people (3 were children)
Best regards Needle Solutions Team
Date Sent: January 8, 2014
Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report – 2,113 needles found in 13 months
To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council
Please find the Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. This is a log of citizen reports of needles found in public spaces for the last 13 months. The log was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
To keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem; Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be identified for
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
City/County cleanup; and to Give the community a place to log their finds
NIPS finds for this reporting period
For this reporting period (12/8/20131/8/2014), 126 needles found in public spaces were logged.
Since the inception of the new Syringe Services Program (4/30/13), 1134 needles have been found in public areas. The monthly needle counts are: April 30th May 8th 63 (9 days, not a full month), June 8th 141 needles; July 8th 105 needles; August 8th 133 needles; September 8th 217 needles; October 8th 141 needles; December 8th – 143 needles; January 8th – 126 needles.
NIPS finds for 2014
On New Year's Day (1/1/2014), there were 14 needles found, mostly by citizens taking a walk. In the first 8 days of 2014, 33 needles were found.
Hot spot NIPS locations:
93/126 needles (73.8%) were found within 2 miles of the SSP (1080 Emeline), including 7 needles behind Building K;
Evergreen Cemetery; Plymouth/Felker area; and Near the rail road tracks and the recycling center on Fair Ave
Of Special Note:
Children were present during at least 5 needle finds, including a oneyearold girl who toddled up to a needle below the staircase of the 2story garage on Walnut Street. On a step just above, there was a cap along with blood splatter. (379N). Photos are attached.
There were two instances of needles found in business restrooms (355N & 366N). Additionally, a business owner who had her sign stolen from the front of her business found a sharps container with three needles inside. (372N). Another business received a “Comment” form from a customer stating that there were discarded needles in the parking lot. (A photo of the comment form is attached.)
Media Coverage of Needles Found in Public Spaces
Santa Cruz Patch: “The Clean Team 'Celebrates' a Year of Picking up Hypodermic Needles & Trash” (12/14/13);KION Central Coast News: Aired Needle Count 12/16/13
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
Needle Counts
2113 needles found in 13 monthsNumber of needle sticks 6 people (3 were children)Best regards Needle Solutions Team
Date sent: December 8th Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report 1987 needles found in 12 monthsEmail Content:To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council
Please find the Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. As of today, the NIPS log is 1 year old. Yes, this is a curious anniversary. During this year, the community has made 347 reports with a total count of 1987 needles. The average monthly count is 165 needles. The citizens had hoped that the ongoing reporting would encourage the County to put safety measures in place that would result in harm reduction for our citizens, especially our children.
As noted each month, the NIPS log was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
Keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem; Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be identified for
City/County cleanup; and to Give the community a place to log their finds
NIPS finds for this reporting periodSince the inception of the new Syringe Services Program (4/30), 1008 needles have been found in public areas. The monthly needle counts since the SSP are: April 30th May 8th 63 (9 days, not a full month), June 8th 141 needles; July 8th 105 needles; August 8th 133 needles; September 8th 217 needles; October 8th 141 needles; November 8th 65 needles; and December 8th 143 needles.
Hot spot NIPS locations:The hot spots this month are Plymouth/Market Street area, Evergreen Cemetery, and Lost Boys Bridge. 50 of the 143 needles were found at Plymouth/Market Street area.
Of Special Note:We received a report from a mother stating that her 5 year old child stepped on a needle at the children's playground at Blue Ball Park. The needle was in the sand and it had been separated from the syringe. The child has begun the several month medical process of testing for HIV and hepatitis c.
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
NIPS Recommendations
We support the Public Safety Citizen Task Force’s Recommendations which are: Insist that the County Board of Supervisors address the communitywide impacts of SSP on
their work plan/agenda. Ensure best practices are in place for SSP to mitigate impacts to the City’s public spaces
and neighborhoods. Relocate SSP to Countyowned property located in a nonresidential area. Implement a syringe identification tagging program (e.g. color coding or serial number). Exchange to be on a true one for one basis with an actual physical count of syringes being
exchanged. No estimations should be allowed. Account for both syringes being distributed and returned. Account separately for syringes
without identification tag. The City of Santa Cruz should prevent additional syringe exchanges programs from
operating or opening within the City limits. Needle Counts1987 needles found in 12 monthsNumber of needle sticks reported 6 people (3 were children)
HandoffI will be handing over Needles in Public Spaces report and log to (name intentionally withheld). I am certain that it is in good hands. This has been a very educational year and I now know more about needles than I ever wished to know. I really appreciate your willingness to review this monthly report in the midst of your busy schedules. I am looking forward to positive change in 2014.
Best regards Jan
Date sent: November 8th Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report 1844 needles found in 11 monthsEmail Content:To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council
Please find the Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. This is a log of citizen reports of needles found in public spaces 11 months. The log was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
To keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem; Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be identified for
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
City/County cleanup; and to Give the community a place to log their finds
NIPS finds for this reporting periodSince the inception of the new Syringe Services Program (4/30), 865 needles have been found in public areas. The monthly needle counts are: April 30th May 8th 63 (9 days, not a full month), June 8th 141 needles; July 8th 105 needles; August 8th 133 needles; September 8th 217 needles; October 8th 141 needles; and November 8th 65 needles.
The reported needle count is substantially down from the last 5 months. If the number continues to decrease over the next 3 months, we will have a very impressive pattern. Keep your fingers crossed the overall goal of this report is harm reduction for our citizens, especially our children.
Hot spot NIPS locations:The hot spots this month are:
Along the levee
Carbonera Creek behind the Emeline complex
Of Special Note:We received a report from a mother stating that her son had a needle stick. She reported that during summer camp, her 8 year old son found and played with a needle at the beach. Two days later, his mother discovered the needle when it fell it out of a pocket while folding laundry. The boy was quickly tested for HIV and hepatitis and, after a 2 day wait, the test results were negative.
During a community clean activity, a person reported a needle, kit, and diaper found together near the Emeline Sharps Drop box. Please see photo at the bottom of this email.
NIPS Recommendations
Sometime next January, SC HSC will require all clients to sign a Good Neighbor Policy that states "Please do not dispose of needles in public spaces. We have sharps containers in the Hygiene Bay and in the Day Services Office for needle disposal. If you need to dispose of needles, let us know. (No questions asked.)"
It would be great if the Santa Cruz City Council and the County Board of Supervisors could ask similar programs to implement a good neighbor policy that includes a plan to safely dispose of needles.
As mentioned last month, we do not know if the needles found on in our community are from the SSP as SSP needles do not have an identifier. As long as the needles provided by the County's Syringe Services are unmarked, a person can turn in any needle (such as a relative's prescription needle) to get a new needle. If the SSP and the SOS only exchanged only those needles that have an SSP ID, the SSP needles become more valuable to the intravenous drug user. Additionally, the community would know that unmarked needles found in public spaces are not related to the SSP.
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
Needle Counts1844 needles found in 11 monthsNumber of needle sticks reported 5 people (2 were children)
Best regards Jan
Date sent: October 8th Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report 1779 needles found in 10 monthsEmail Content:To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council
Please find the Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. This is a log of citizen reports of needles found in public spaces 10 months. The log was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
To keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem; Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be identified for
City/County cleanup; and to Give the community a place to log their finds
NIPS finds for this reporting periodSince the inception of the new Syringe Services Program (4/30), 800 needles have been found in public areas. The monthly needle counts are: April 30th May 8th 63 (9 days, not a full month), June 8th 141 needles; July 8th 105 needles; August 8th 133 needles; September 8th 217 needles and October 8th 141 needles.
We do not know if the needles found on in our community are from the SSP as the SSP needles do not have an identifier. There are greater than 500,000 needles sold with prescription in Santa Cruz County. As long as the needles provided by the Syringe Services are unmarked, a person can turn in any needle (such as a relative's prescription needle) to get a new needle. If the SSP and the SOS took back only those needles that have an SSP ID, the community would know the unmarked needles are not related to the SSP. Additionally, the community would appreciate that the SSP is doing their best to keep the community safe and harm free.
A Needles Solutions team member did some research and found syringe services that have marked their needles. The research document is attached.
The good news is that the needle count is down from the high in September and it is now in the range of former months. This reduction in needle finds may be due atypical activities of the Clean Team this reporting period. The Clean Team is volunteer group that often finds needles during their
City Solutions - Needles Solutions Team
Saturday Clean events. Two of their September clean events were on a private property.
Hot spot NIPS locations:The hot spots reported last month still remain. They are:
A quadrant of Plymouth, Emeline, Button, and Fernside
Near the rail road tracks and the recycling center on Fair Ave
Of Special Note:We received a report from a reliable source that 2 more people have had needle sticks. The sticks occurred in February to 2 workers who were performing grounds keeping activities. Both received medical attention.
Needle Counts1779 needles found in 10 monthsNumber of needle sticks 4 people (1 was a child)
Best regards Jan
Date sent: September 8th
Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report 1638 needles found in 9 months
Email Content:To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City CouncilPlease find the Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. This is a log of citizen reports of needles found in public spaces over the past 9 months. The log was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
To keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem; Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be identified for
City/County cleanup; and to Give the community a place to log their finds
Increasing NIPS findsSince the new Syringe Services Program has begun (4/30), 659 needles have been found in public areas. The monthly needle counts are: April 30th May 8th 63 (9 days, not a full month), June 8th 141 needles; July 8th 105 needles; August 8th 133 needles; September 8th 217 needles. We do not know if the needles found on in our community are from the SSP as the SSP needles do not have an identifier.
Hot spot NIPS locations and Noteworthy reportThough the needle count is not formal, there are 2 locations that are proving to be hot spots:
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Near the rail road tracks and the recycling center on Fair Ave
A quadrant of Plymouth, Emeline, Button, and Fernside
Counts1638 needles found in 9 monthsNumber of needle sticks 2 people (1 was a child)
Best regards Jan
Date sent: August 8th
Subject line: Needles Solutions Team Needles in Public Spaces Report 1421 needles found in 8 months
Email Content:
To: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council
The Take Back Santa Cruz Needles Solutions Team has been keeping a log of needles found in public spaces. Please find the Needles in Public Spaces (NIPS) monthly report attached. This document was created as a reference so that someone can use the data to:
Determine if the needles found in public spaces are increasing or decreasing; Provide data to the City and County so that "hot spot" patterns can be identified for
City/County cleanup
Give the community a place to log their finds
and most importantly
To keep the County and City aware that there is ongoing problem.
Since the new Syringe Services Program (4/30), 442 needles have been found in public areas. This averages to 4.5 needles found by the public each day after the new program. Two reports of note this month were Report 202 (found in the bleachers at Harvey West Park. Children were playing nearby) and Report 203 (found a needle sticking up out of the kelp near the waterline while returning from paddle boarding).
Here are the counts for the past 8 months from December 8th through August 8th.
Total count 1421 needles found in public spacesNumber of needle sticks 2 people (1 was a child)
Best regards Jan
