Public Health Department to host community meeting discussing ‘harm reduction services’

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is holding a community meeting to gather feedback from residents on the County’s harm reduction syringe services programs. The meeting will be a hybrid event, allowing for both in-person attendance at the Zev Yaroslavsky Family Support Center and virtual attendance through Zoom on Friday, March 29 from 9am to 11am.

Seating for the in-person portion of the meeting will be limited and allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Virtual attendees can register to watch the meeting via a provided link.

Residents attending the meeting will have the opportunity to provide comments in person during the public comment section of the agenda. For those unable to attend or who wish to submit comments beforehand, remarks related to the harm reduction syringe services programs can be submitted through a webform.

The controversial issue of the harm reduction syringe services program was recently discussed in a City Council meeting, resulting in a split vote along party lines. Councilmembers voted to draft a resolution expressing the City’s disapproval of the program.

DTSM CEO Andrew Thomas expressed satisfaction with the community meeting being organized by the Department of Public Health. He stated that DTSM, Inc. shared information about the meeting with stakeholders and looks forward to continuing the discussion on the harm reduction syringe services program.