Mile High Behavioral Healthcare: Summit County
Syringe Access Program
WHAT IS A SYRINGE ACCESS PROGRAM?
A respectful first step toward health & safety.
A Syringe Access Program, or SAP, is a public health service that provides people who use drugs with access to sterile supplies, overdose prevention tools, and connections to care. These programs don’t enable drug use—they help reduce harm, save lives, and strengthen the health of the entire community.
By meeting people where they are, SAPs offer care and resources in a way that’s respectful, nonjudgmental, and rooted in dignity.
Because everyone deserves a chance to stay safe, be supported, and feel seen.
Syringe Access Programs are backed by decades of research and global public health recommendations. They exist because they work.
Why Syringe Access Programs (SAPs) Exist
They help prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis C, and other infectious illnesses
They reduce overdose deaths through access to naloxone and overdose education
They connect people to treatment, recovery, and primary healthcare
They reduce emergency room visits, for both those who use intravenous drugs, and for community members who may encounter needle waste, and they reduce overall community syringe litter
SAPs are built on the belief that everyone deserves access to health and dignity—no matter where they are on their journey.
Sterile syringes and safer use supplies (for injection, smoking, and snorting)
Proper disposal of used syringes, or Sharps containers for use in your building
Naloxone (Narcan) to reverse opioid overdoses
Fentanyl, benzo and xylazine test strips to ensure that substances are not laced with other substances that could cause injury or death
Free STI and pregnancy testing
Referrals to treatment, healthcare, and social services
Our Syringe Access Program in Summit County provides a wide range of harm reduction services, all free and confidential:
What Our Program Offers
All services are rooted in compassion, no ID or insurance required.
What Syringe Access Programs Don’t Do
We understand that people have questions and concerns. Here’s what SAPs don’t do:
SAPs do not encourage or increase drug use (Read the data here)
SAPs do not raise crime rates in the neighborhoods they serve (Read the data here)
SAPs do not replace treatment—they help people get there (Read the data here)
In fact, people who access SAPs are five times more likely to enter substance use treatment than those who don’t. These programs reduce risk in the short term while helping those who are interested explore options for long-term support.
The Bigger Picture
Substance use doesn’t exist in isolation—it affects families, workplaces, schools, and entire communities. Syringe Access Programs are one part of a broader effort to reduce harm, connect people to care, and make Summit County a safer, healthier place for everyone.
When people are offered dignity, safety, and resources without shame, they’re more likely to take steps toward wellness—on their own terms. According to the CDC, SAPs can reduce the risk of HIV by over 50% among people who inject drugs. That’s not just good for individuals—it’s good for public health, and for the future of our community.
Curious to Learn More?
Want to understand how substance use is affecting Summit County—and how we can respond together? Sign up for updates to learn more about our programs, our data, and how you can help. The first step is understanding. And it starts right here.