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    Acting Secretary of Health Visits Pittsburgh to Highlight Life-Saving Benefits of Syringe Service Programs

    June 02, 2022

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 2, 2022   


     Acting Secretary of Health Visits Pittsburgh to Highlight Life-Saving Benefits of Syringe Service Programs

    Pittsburgh, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary and Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson today visited Pittsburgh to discuss syringe service programs and the important role they play in the drug treatment process. 

    "Syringe service programs are already working," she said. "We need to continue to use proven methods that work to reduce the number of drug overdose deaths. The success of these existing programs is evidence that residents across the state could experience better health outcomes if more syringe service programs were available."

    Nationwide, syringe services programs are associated with a significant reduction in injection-related HIV and Hepatitis C.

    "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals who participate in syringe service programs are five times more likely to enter drug treatment," Dr. Johnson said, noting that she was in Bethlehem yesterday discussing syringe services with the mayor and members of the local heroin and opioid task force who are eager to provide this service to residents in their region.

    The Wolf Administration worked closely with members of the General Assembly to develop Senate Bill 926 and House Bill 2264, which would allow organizations to engage in this work. Currently, there are more than 400 syringe service programs currently operating in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.


    MEDIA CONTACT:  Mark O'Neill, ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov

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