Determination of Need for Syringe Services Programs

Key points

  • Federal agencies may support syringe services programs (SSPs) at local levels.
  • Evidence from state, local, tribal, or territorial health departments must prove an SSP will be beneficial before funding is allocated.
  • Funding may not be used to purchase needles or syringes.
Clean syringes and first aid supplies.

Overview

Workers provide food and aid at a syringe services program (SSP) site.
Workers provide food and aid at a syringe services program (SSP) site.

Appropriation language from Congress in fiscal years 2016-2018 allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support syringe services programs (SSPs). It is allowed under certain conditions and is not allowed to be used to purchase needles or syringes.

CDC guidance for SSP funding

State, local, tribal, or territorial health departments must consult with CDC and provide evidence to get SSP funding. They must show that their area is experiencing, or at risk for, significant increases in hepatitis infections or an HIV outbreak due to injection drug use.

CDC has developed guidance and consults with state, local, or tribal and territorial health departments if they have provided the required evidence per federal law.

Decisions about use of SSPs to prevent disease transmission and support the health of people who inject drugs are made at the state and local level.

CDC has 30 business days after receiving the request to notify the requestor whether there is enough evidence to require an SSP. When CDC finds sufficient evidence, local departments and other eligible HHS grant recipients may then apply to their respective federal agencies to direct funds to approved SSP activities.

Federal agency guidance for SSP funding

Each federal agency (e.g., CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA) have their own guidance for funding recipients regarding which specific programs may apply and its application process:

The Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2016 allows funds from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to support SSPs. However, these funds cannot be used to purchase needles or syringes.

To use DHHS funds for SSPs, state, local, tribal, or territorial health departments must consult with CDC. They must provide evidence that their area is experiencing, or at risk for, significant increases in hepatitis infections or an HIV outbreak due to injection drug use.

Who can participate

Jurisdictions Determined to be Experiencing or At-risk of Significant Increases in Hepatitis Infection or an HIV Outbreak Due to Injection Drug Use Following CDC Consultation

Map of CDC Concurrence
There are currently 44 states and DC, 1 tribal nation, 1 territory and with a determination of need in place.

 

State/Territory Jurisdictional point of contact
State/Territory
(cities and counties, if applicable)
Date of CDC concurrence Jurisdictional point of contact Email
Alabama statewide February 1, 2020 Scott Harris scott.harris@adph.state.al.us
Alaska statewide January 18, 2017 Susan A. Jones susan.jones@alaska.gov
Arizona statewide October 26, 2021 Christopher Garcia christopher.d.garcia@azdhs.gov
California statewide August 12, 2016 Alessandra Ross Alessandra.Ross@cdph.ca.gov
Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma) November 16, 2018 Whitney Essex whitney-essex@cherokee.org
Colorado statewide June 10, 2016 Andrés Guerrero andres.guerrero@state.co.us
Connecticut statewide April 5, 2017 Marianne Buchelli Marianne.Buchelli@ct.gov
District of Columbia June 27, 2018 Nestor Rocha Nestor.Rocha@dc.gov
Delaware statewide January 9, 2019 Bob Vella robert.vella@state.de.us
Florida statewide February 1, 2020 Mara Michniewicz Mara.Michniewicz@flhealth.gov
Georgia statewide August 31, 2018 Rodriques Lambert Rodriques.Lambert@dph.ga.gov
Hawaii statewide February 7, 2018 Thaddeus Pham Thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov
Idaho statewide February 1, 2020 Randi Pedersen Randi.Pedersen@dhw.idaho.gov
Illinois statewide October 27, 2017 Curt Hicks Curt.Hicks@Illinois.gov
Indiana statewide October 7, 2016 Dennis Stover DStover@isdh.IN.gov
Iowa statewide December 4, 2017 Randy Mayer Randall.Mayer@idph.iowa.gov
Kentucky statewide September 9, 2016 Karen Sams Karen.Sams@ky.gov
Louisiana statewide January 18, 2017 Sam Burgess samuel.burgess@la.gov
Maine statewide February 1, 2020 Jeff Caulfield jeff.caulfield@maine.gov
Maryland statewide June 17, 2016 Kip Castner kip.castner@maryland.gov
Massachusetts statewide June 17, 2016 Annette Rockwell or Dawn Fukuda Annette.Rockwell@state.ma.us, dawn.fukuda@massnail.state.ma.us
Michigan statewide June 10, 2016 Joe Coyle coylej@michigan.gov
Minnesota statewide August 19, 2016 Kathy Chinn or
Errol Saunders
kathy.chinn@state.mn.us
Errol.Saunders@doh.nj.gov
Missouri statewide September 20, 2019 Christine Smith christine.smith@health.mo.gov
Montana statewide May 4, 2018 Dana Fejes dfejes@mt.gov
Nevada statewide October 3, 2017 Lyell Collins lscollins@health.nv.gov
New Hampshire statewide October 27, 2017 Lindsay Pierce Lindsay.Pierce@dhhs.nh.gov
New Mexico statewide August 21, 2018 Andrew Gans
New Jersey statewide June 17, 2016 Steven Saunders errol.saunders@doh.nj.gov
New York statewide May 26, 2017 Allan Clear Allan.Clear@health.ny.gov
  • New York City
July 18, 2018 Dr. Julie Myers jmyers@health.nyc.gov
North Carolina statewide February 24, 2017 Aaron Fleischauer aaron.fleischauer@dhhs.nc.gov
North Dakota statewide June 16, 2017 Lindsey VanderBusch lvanderbusch@nd.gov
Ohio statewide July 24, 2018 Laurie Ricket laurie.rickert@odh.ohio.gov
  • Cuyahoga County
December 2, 2016 Terry Allan Tallan@ccbh.net
  • Lorain County
October 23, 2017 David Covell dcovell@loraincountyhealth.com
Oklahoma statewide October 16, 2019 Kristen Eberly kristene@health.ok.gov
Oregon statewide October 20, 2017 Judith Leahy or
Joshua Ferrer
Judith.m.leahy@state.or.us
Joshua.s.ferrer@dhsoha.state.or.us
Pennsylvania statewide June 24, 2016 Charlie Howsare chowshare@pa.gov
Puerto Rico February 13, 2017 Javier Vazquez Melendez javazquez@salud.pr.gov
Rhode Island statewide December 2, 2016 Katharine Howe Katharine.howe@health.ri.gov
South Carolina statewide January 9, 2019 Tony Price priceae@dhec.sc.gov
Tennessee statewide August 29, 2017 Allison Wilhem Allison.Wilhelm@tn.gov
Utah statewide June 17, 2016 Heather Bush hbush@utah.gov
Vermont statewide June 17, 2016 Patsy Kelso patsy.kelso@vermont.gov
Washington statewide April 26, 2019 Emalie Huriaux emalie.huriaux@doh.wa.gov
Virginia statewide March 22, 2017 Bruce Taylor Bruce.Taylor@vdh.virginia.gov
West Virginia statewide April 14, 2017 Will Cohen William.H.Cohen@wv.gov
Wisconsin statewide September 9, 2016 Jim Vergeront james.vergeront@wisconsin.gov
Wyoming statewide September 22, 2017 Brittany Wardle brittany.wardle@wyo.gov

Information current as of March 2, 2022.