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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 goals of the SSP are to work in partnership with the community to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases associated with injection drug use; prevent overdose deaths related to illicit drug use; and address concerns 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).

Data, Reports & Updates

Click here to send comments about these reports

Advisory Commission Meetings

2023 Meeting Calendar

Notice:

Effective March 31, 2024, Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 2.125 has been repealed and the Syringe Services Program Advisory Commission has been dissolved. No further commission meetings will be held. For information regarding the Syringe Services Program, please visit Syringe Services Program (santacruzhealth.org).

This website has been preserved for informational purposes only and will be available through October 1, 2024. To request any available records, please submit a request via NextRequest or by contacting Socorro Gutierrez at Socorro.Gutierrez@santacruzcountyca.gov.

For questions about Santa Cruz County Commissions, Committees or Advisory Bodies, please email the Clerk of the Board by emailing CommissionsSCC@santacruzcountyca.gov or by dialing (831-454-2323).

 

Information Resources

Other Information/Web Links

In the News

 

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

Exchange Schedule & Sites

SSP is performing Mobile Exchange with Street Medicine in the City of Santa Cruz on Wednesdays and in Watsonville on Thursdays

1060 Emeline Ave.
Room 105
Santa Cruz, CA. 95060
Please use north entrance of Building F (see map)
Hours of Operation:
Mondays
10am - 1pm
Tuesdays
5pm - 7pm
Thursdays
4pm - 6pm
Fridays
10am - 1pm

1430 Freedom Blvd.
Suite B
Watsonville, CA. 95076
Please use entrance near the front of Suite B (parking lot side) (see map)
Hours of Operation:
Tuesdays
10:30am - 1:30am
Fridays
9am - 11am
Please note, our Monday and Wednesday exchange shifts in Watsonville have been suspended and our Tuesday shift has been extended to 1:30pm.

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