(a) The City of Clarksburg, by and through its Chief of Police, may sponsor, approve, or participate in a program or programs within the City of Clarksburg for the distribution or exchange of hypodermic syringes, needles and other similar objects used or designed for injecting substances into the human body.
(b) Rules for Harrison County Health Department (HCHD) Needle Exchange Program within the City of Clarksburg:
(1) The HCHD will educate each patient of the Harm Reduction (Needle Exchange) program upon each and every visit prior to distributing any supplies to include syringes (needles) of the extreme importance of utilizing syringes (needles) only once, so as to diminish the spread of disease throughout the Intravenous Drug Use (IDU) community and the population at large.
(2) At each and every visit prior to receiving any needles from HCHD, HCHD shall advise each participant of the rehabilitation or other services available through the harm reduction program operated by the HCHD or any other associated services offered by other providers that may be available to the participant.
(3) Prior to receiving any needles from HCHD, the participant shall be required by HCHD to present their government issued photo ID.
(4) Only residents of Harrison County will be permitted to participate in the HCHD Needle Exchange. HCHD shall verify residency of participants. Any participant for whom residency in Harrison County cannot be verified shall not be permitted to participate in the Needle Exchange.
(5) Prior to participation in the Needle Exchange, all participants must be tested for blood borne illnesses. Additionally, as a condition of continued participation in the Needle Exchange, participants must agree to additional testing every six months thereafter and at any other time deemed medically reasonable or necessary. The HCHD shall consider any refusal to test as a disqualification for participation in the Needle Exchange, and participation shall be suspended until such time as testing is completed.
(6) The Needle Exchange shall operate strictly as an exchange. Participants shall return all needles distributed by the HCHD prior to receiving any additional needles, and HCHD personnel shall count and record each outgoing and incoming needle for each participant.
(7) The HCHD shall prepare and submit a monthly report to the Chief of the Clarksburg Police Department and the Chief of the Clarksburg Fire Department containing the number of participants, the number of needles distributed, the number of needles returned, the number of participants who have entered a rehabilitation program, and the number of participants who have tested positive for HIV or hepatitis infections.
(8) No Needle Exchange Program shall operate in the Central Business District of the City of Clarksburg on or after January 1, 2020.
(Ord. 19-9. Passed 9-5-19.)