Kingsford — The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department is offering a syringe service program called New Points. This service is being offered in Dickinson County with expansion to Iron County in near future.

Funding from this program is provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and NorthCare Network. The purpose is to reduce risk both for the clients using substances and the community as a whole; while helping clients move towards treatment and recovery.

SSP’s are community-based programs that provide access to sterile syringes, needles and other clean paraphernalia for individuals injecting street drugs. This prevents sharing of used equipment and decreases the transmission of infectious disease. New Points will also offer safe disposal of used needles and syringes. Participants will be offered vaccinations and testing opportunities for diseases such as HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Education about safer choices and referrals to medical, mental health, and recovery services will be provided.

Research by the Center of Disease Control indicates most of the increase is the result of people sharing needles to inject heroin and other drugs. In 2019, 60% of the newly reported Hepatitis C cases in Dickinson and Iron counties reported intravenous drug use.

“DIDHD offers many of the services provided by a comprehensive SSP, therefore making it a beneficial program under the public health umbrella. If a participant is in need of another service offered by the health department, a connection to this program will be made. It is an easy transition for the coordination of care,” said Daren Deyaert, health officer for DIDHD.

Kelly Rumpf, health educator and project coordinator for New Points, added, “Intravenous drug use is not a stand-alone issue for those who have substance use disorders. IV drug use often brings difficulties with housing, disease, finances, and mental health issues which have an effect on health outcomes. The health department is looking forward to offering participants resources needed to improve their quality of life.”

For more information, please contact Rumpf at 906-779-7234 or krumpf@didhd.org.