Effective April 30, 2013 the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA) began administering the Syringe Services Program (SSP). The primary goal of the SSP is to work in partnership with the community to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases associated with injection drug use and to address the community's concern regarding improperly discarded syringes.
In the interest of transparency and full disclosure regarding HSA’s Syringe Exchange Program, the Public Health Department has put together these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
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*A Project of Community Health and Prevention Programs (Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency)
1060 Emeline Ave. Room 105 Santa Cruz, CA. 95060 Hours of Operation: Mondays 10am - 1pm Tuesdays 5pm - 7pm Wednesdays 4pm - 6pm Thursdays 4pm - 6pm Fridays 10am - 1pm (Free HIV/HCV testing available on Fridays)
Please use north entrance of Building F (see map)
1430 Freedom Blvd. Suite A Watsonville, CA. 95076 Hours of Operation: Mondays 3:30pm - 4:30pm Tuesdays 10:30am - 11:30am Wednesdays 1:30pm - 3:30pm (Free HIV/HCV testing available Wednesdays) Thursdays 3:30pm - 4:30pm Fridays 9am - 11pm
Please use side entrance between Suite A and Suite B and ring door bell (see map)
Both exchange locations are closed on County holidays.
First determine if they present a threat to public safety. If so, call 911, and the Sheriff’s office or city police will be dispatched depending on the location of the property.
If no threat to public safety:
If syringes are found on private property in an unincorporated area of the county:
Call Environmental Health at 831-454-2022 to report and request removal.
Contact information for cities without a specific protocol for pick up:
City of Capitola
City of Scotts Valley
City of Watsonville
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