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Gresham mobile needle exchange site will continue for another year

The site was saved after it was previously only the Multnomah County budget chopping block.

GRESHAM, Ore — The mobile needle exchange site in Gresham will survive for another year. It was at risk of being cut, but an amendment to save it was approved Thursday, along with the new budget for Multnomah County.

“The demand from clients for syringe exchange services just continues to increase every single year,” said Kim Toevs, the Youth Sexual Health Equity & STD/HIV/HCV Programs Director with the Multnomah County Health Department.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Mobile needle exchange site on Multnomah County budget chopping block

Staff said the mobile site is more than just a needle exchange, it may also be the first step to getting someone into addiction treatment.

"If we can establish some trust with them and say, 'Hey, we can vouch for these other folks in addictions treatment, they'll also treat you well as human beings with dignity,' people are more likely then to engage in treatment,” Toevs said.

Credit: Multnomah County
Mobile needle exchange site

Some, though, do not agree with the program, saying it enables drug use and brings problems to their neighborhoods. Staff said otherwise. 

“There hasn't been any scientific study that shows that providing people with medical equipment that they need to stay healthy, actually increases their drug use,” Toevs said. “It's quite the opposite. The neighborhoods that have syringe exchanges are usually cleaner and have less syringe debris.”

The site also hands out Naloxone, a medication that reverses a drug overdose. Data shows this is helping save lives. Last year, 913 overdose rescues were reported.

The health department will likely face another round of budget cuts next year that could gain threaten this program, so staff are trying to figure out a long term solution. 

RELATED: 'We're trying to save lives': Multnomah County to give opioid overdose antidote to inmates leaving jail

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