News Release

Board of Health to hold public hearing on syringe exchange request

Department: Health & Environment
Release Date: Apr 18, 2012

Contact:

A public hearing will be held by the Board of Health on Tuesday, May 15, from 5:30-7:15 pm as it reviews a request by the Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP) to become a legal syringe exchange site in Larimer County. The hearing will take place in the 1^st floor Hearing Room in the Larimer County Courthouse Office Building, 200 West Oak Street, Fort Collins.

A law passed in 2010 in Colorado allows local syringe exchange programs to help reduce the transmission of Hepatitis C and HIV. Such programs must operate with public health oversight and local Board of Health approval, and programs have been approved in Boulder, Denver, and Grand Junction. NCAP would like to offer a legal syringe exchange site in Fort Collins under the oversight of the Larimer County Board of Health.

After a brief description of what NCAP is proposing, members of the public will be invited to speak on the request. The time allowed for each speaker will be determined by the number of people signed up to speak. Providing a written copy of any testimony is encouraged to ensure that all concerns can be expressed, even if the amount of time allowed each speaker is limited.

There will be tables outside of the hearing room for persons wanting to share printed materials supporting or opposing the proposal.

Comments on the request can also mailed to Larimer County Board of Health, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524 or emailed to boh@larimer.org.

For more detailed information about NCAP’s request, contact Jeffrey Basinger, NCAP Regional Director, 970-484-4469 x 12, jeff@ncaids.org.