*** Please help keep safe needle exchange alive! A request for support. *** [View All]

[pinto]

As you know, the latest California budget has decimated many health care programs.

Since 2007, The San Luis Obispo Syringe Exchange Program (SLOSEP) has operated safe, legal needle exchange on the Central Coast.

Our goals have remained clear from day one - Reduce blood borne infections among injectors, provide safe disposal of used syringes, increase HIV / Hepatitis C testing and make referrals to local drug treatment programs.

We support a “harm reduction” approach to injection drug use - Harm reduction meets users "where they're at" to minimize the negative consequences of drug use. It includes promoting a range of options - from safer use, to managed use, to abstinence.

SLOSEP (locally, we go by “SLO Bangers”) is truly a grass roots operation.

In 2010 we expect our team of twelve dedicated volunteers to put in 400 hours and log 6,000 miles to staff three exchange sites.
One paid administrator, working 6 hours a week, helps make it all happen. 52 weeks a year, rain or shine.

Our clients run the gamut of illicit drug use - long time opiate addicts, weekend meth shooters, steroid injectors, etc. – street people, middle class working folks, and professionals. All have one thing in common – the risk of acquiring HIV, Hep C or other infections due to their needle use.

To date, we have recovered 20,000 used syringes for safe disposal and distributed 18,000 sterile syringes.

As you know, the latest California budget has decimated many health care programs.

State funding for HIV prevention work here was cut from $111,000 to $0. Yep, that’s a zero.
10% of those funds went to support SLOSEP / SLO Bangers.

We are working to make up the short fall and keep syringe exchange alive. Any donation you can afford, whatever the size, will help us stay in operation.

Thanks all ~ pinto


SLOSEP
c/o Pacific Pride Foundation
126 East Haley Street, Suite A-11
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Donations are tax deductible. Please note “SLOSEP”. Thanks

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