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WHEREAS, rates of opioid use, fatal overdoses and Hepatitis C diagnoses are increasing in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County; and,
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WHEREAS, syringe access is an evidence-based structural intervention to reduce HIV transmission and a proven method of reaching individuals who are currently injecting drugs in order to engage them in other risk-reduction services; and,
WHEREAS, Prevention Point Pittsburgh has completed a robust community engagement effort that identified House of Manna Faith Community as a “suitable venue”; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to Allegheny County Ordinance 04-08-OR, the Council of the County of Allegheny adopted and approved Article II, Allegheny County Health Department Rules and Regulations pertaining to Needle Exchange Programs for Communicable Disease Prevention and Providing Drug Treatment Opportunities (the “Rules and Regulations”); and,
WHEREAS, Section 205D of the Rules and Regulations states that, “No Needle Exchange Program shall operate in any location until the address of the Program Location is specifically approved by the Allegheny County Board of Health and the hosting municipality through legislative action”; and,
WHEREAS, Prevention Point Pittsburgh obtained approval from the Allegheny County Board of Health for the proposed location and other operational logistics of the program in November, 2019; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby approves the location for the Prevention Point Pittsburgh operate a Needle Exchange Program at 7240 Frankstown Avenue.