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Syringe Services Program (SSP)

Program Description

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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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In the News

 

*A Project of Community Health and Prevention Programs
(Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency)

Exchange Schedule & Sites

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 B
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 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month)
Thursdays
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Fridays
9am - 11pm

Please use entrance near the front of Suite B (parking lot side)
(see map)

Both exchange locations are closed on County holidays.

 

Community Resources

Public Sharps Disposal

What to do if you find syringes in the community

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 outside City of Santa Cruz call the Sheriff’s non-emergency line at 831-471-1121 to report.
  • If within City of Santa Cruz click here to report.

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

Click here to send a comment/feedback to our Public Health Department

For information about the SSP Program call
(831) 454-2437