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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 05202003 - C84 To: w.,.. BOARD (3F SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA COUNTY From: William B.Walker,M.D. Health Services Director Date: May 20,2003 Subject: EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN SUPPORT FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION Recommendation: CONTINUE with the emergency action originally taken by the Board on December 14, 1999 based on the increasing/epidemic number of AIDS/HIST and Hepatitis C cases among injection drug users in Contra Costa County. Ba ftround; Continued.Need far Emergency The spread of disease, particularly IRV and Hepatitis C, through the sharing of needles continues to be a grave concern in Contra Costa County. 30% of all people living with AIDS in Contra Costa were infected by injection drug use with the highest number of AIDS cases in West County. As of December 1997, Richmond had the highest cumulative incidence of AIDS (4.8 per 1000 papulation) among Contra Costa cities, with at least 50 cases. Injection drug use was the estimated mode of infection among 40% of all individuals diagnosed with AIDS in Richmond. Among African Americans diagnosed with AIDS in Richmond 1982-1998 53%were most likely infected through injection drug use. Contra Costa Health Services does not currently provide needle exchange services(it is prohibited from doing so absent a declared public health emergency). CCHS does provide services focused on injection drug users including: I-HIV/AIDS Outreach and Education, 2-HIV antibody testing, 3-Substance Abuse Treatment, 4-Health on Wheels Van, and 5-Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment for HIV-infected clients. CONTINUED ON A'ITAC NT: YES SIGNATURE.: 'k4 ,✓' RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMTTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): a ,,' ACTION OF BO N , v 2{} 2003 APPROVED AS RECONBIENDED X OTHER, VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS X (ABSENT ANIS CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN, ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ***District III Seat VACANT** ATTESTED ' 20' 2003 JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK.OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Contact Person: Wendel Brunner,M.D. 313-6712 CC: Health Services Director Public Health Administration BY _ _�_.` DEPUTY v Boat d r�,f Supervisors Page 2 Emergency Decl aratlon for Support v,f'Needle Exchange Programs ams Exchange Works, a community-based needle exchange service currently in operation in Contra Costa currently distributes clean needles on a one-to-one basis. Their volunteer staff currently exchange 5,000 needles per week at two sites: There are no established needle exchange program in East or Central County. PROGRESS S17V'CE EMERGENCY DECLARATIONON DECEMBER 14, 1999 At the Board. of Supervisors December 14, 1999 meeting, CCHS was directed to take four actions. As of January 7, 2000 the following has been completed: + CCHS has entered into discussions with Exchange Works in West County. • Supplies for the ongoing provision of the services have been identified. • CCHS staff have been identified to assist with the provision of information and referrals. • Documentation' forms are being reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure that specific information is available to the Board. • Planning for an East County process will begin later this quarter after the preliminary process in. West County is completed. This emergency action was renewed: on December 20, 1999, January 11, 2000, January 25, 2000, February 15, 2400, March 7, 2000, March 21, 2000, April 11, 2000, May 16, 2000, June 6, 2000, July 18, 2000, August 8, 2000, September 12, 2000, September 26, 2000, October 10, 2000, October 24, 2000, November 14, 2000, December 5, 2000, December 19, 2000, January 9, 2001, January 23, 2001, February 6, 2001, February 27, 2001, March 13, 2001, March 27, 2001, April 10, 2001, April 24, 2001, May 8, 2001, May 22, 2001, June 5, 2001, June 19, 2001, July 10, 2001, July 24, 2001, August 7, 2001, September 11, 2001, September 25, 2001 October 9, 2001, October 23, 2001, November 6, 2001, December 4, 2001, December 18, 2001, January 8, 2002, January 22, 2002, February 5, 2002, February 26, 2002, March 12, 2002, March 26, 2002, April 9, 2002, April 23, 2002, May 7, 2002, May 21, 2002, June 4, 2002, June 18, 2002, July 9, 2002, July 23, 2002, August 6, 2002, September 10, 2002, September 24, 2002, October 8, 2002, October 22, 2002, November 5, 2002, December 3, 2002, December 17, 2002, January 21, 2003, February 4, 2003, March 4, 2003, March 18, 2003, April 8, 2003, May 6, 2003.