Harm Reduction & Syringe Service Programs (SSP)

Syringe Service Programs (SSP), also known as syringe access (SAP), syringe exchange program (SEP) or needle exchange (NEP) programs, are a harm reduction intervention that have been in existence since the late 1980s and have been scientifically proven to reduce transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne pathogens in people who inject (PWI). The primary objectives of SSPs are to:

• Provide a clean syringe for each injection instance to reduce the potential for transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne pathogens.
• Provide an entry point for substance abuse treatment and care and other resources as appropriate to the individual.

Syringe Service Programs became legal in the state of North Dakota for communities who are deemed at risk for increases of HIV and viral hepatitis infections due to people in that community who inject and are sharing injection equipment with the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2320 during the 2017 Legislative Session. The North Dakota Department of Health was given the authority to authorize programs within the state of North Dakota. The legislation passed set out key requirements that entities must comply with prior to operationalizing their exchanges. One of those requirements is that SSPs must be authorized to operate by the NDDoH.

Agencies considering the development of SSPs should contact the HIV.STD.TB.Viral Hepatitis Program to discuss the process and requirements for authorization. Guidance documents and program requriements are detailed in the documents presented below.

Syringe Service Program Guidance and Documents

North Dakota Syringe Service Program (SSP) Guidance Updated: July 2019

Noth Dakota Syringe Service Program (SSP) Reauthorization Guidance

Syringe Service Program (SSP) Participant Enrollment Form Template Updated: November 2018

Syringe Service Program (SSP) Participant Log Template Updated: November 2018

Syringe Service Program (SSP) Biannual Report Form

North Dakota Epidemiologic Profile

North Dakota County Vulnerablity Index

Syringe Service Program Biannual Reports

North Dakota Century Code 23-01-44 requires Syringe Service Programs authorized by NDDoH to report on the status of programs bianually. Information reported includes basic demographics of participants and service utalization information in aggregrate. Below are the summaries of available reports by reporting period.

North Dakota SSP Biannual Report--January-June 2018

North Dakota SSP Biannual Report--July-December 2018

North Dakota SSP Biannual Report--January-June 2019

North Dakota SSP Biannual Report--July-December 2019

Training Information

The North Dakota Department of Health along with NASTAD and the Harm Reduction Coalition provided a training on SSPs and how to work with persons who inject drugs. Below are recordings of the topics covered during this training.

• What: Implementing & Operation a SSP
• Topics: Final Agenda
• When: Tuesday, September 4th from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
• Where: Fargo, ND
  • Oak Room at Fargo Cass Public Health
• 1240 25th St S, Fargo, ND 58103
• Presentation: Final Slides

Recordings of Sessions

• Introductions & Training Overview
• Harm Reduction 101
• Principles of Injection Drug Use
• Drug User Health, Safer Injecting and Overdose Risk
• Stigma, Cultural Competency and Working with People Who Use Drugs