City council votes to allow more needle exchange programs

• Now, Mayor Mike Johnston will need to determine whether to sign the bill.
• His office said the current needle exchange program meets local needs and the mayor will "evaluate" the bill and decide in the coming days, per a statement.

Why it matters: If signed into law, the bill could broaden a service supporters say helps reduce fatal drug overdoses, though opponents have raised concerns about safety and potential proximity to children.

State of play: The measure removes a three-limit cap on needle exchange programs and a rule requiring a 1,000-foot distance restriction from schools and daycare centers.

Zoom in: Two programs, Access Point and Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC), have already lawfully operated within 1,000 feet of schools or daycares since 2012, according to city documents.

• Access Point moved its needle exchange services last month, while HRAC has lobbied for the bill as it struggles to find a new location.

Between the lines: Syringe exchange programs don't allow on-site drug use.

What they're saying: "These will not pop up everywhere if we approve this," Councilmember Jamie Torres, who supported the bill, said Monday, noting the programs are largely grant-funded and don't generate considerable revenue.

Context: Needle exchange programs provide clean syringes for people using drugs and dispose of used ones, steps that can reduce the spread of diseases like hepatitis C and HIV.

• Their approach is referred to as harm reduction, which tries to minimize the adverse effects of drug use by giving people resources to keep them safe without criticizing their choices.