Idaho considers dropping needle exchange program

BOISE — Idaho Rep. John Vander Woude is proposing the state scrap its syringe and needle exchange program about a week after a nonprofit that conducts this program was raided by police.

Vander Woude, R-Nampa, introduced the proposed bill to the House Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday morning, briefly mentioning the news of the police raid on the Idaho Harm Reduction Project. Vander Woude chairs the House Health and Welfare Committee.

Police from the Boise and Caldwell departments raided Idaho Harm Reduction Project offices in the two cities on Feb. 13. A Boise Police Department spokesperson said the search warrant was for items related to the use of methamphetamine, opioids and crack cocaine. The syringes used as part of the nonprofit’s exchange program were not sought, police said. No arrests were made or charges filed.

Vander Woude’s bill would repeal the state’s Syringe and Needle Exchange Act, which allows entities to exchange clean needles and safely dispose of old ones for the purpose of preventing the spread of diseases and helping provide information about substance abuse treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website says these types of syringe services programs are associated with an estimated 50% reduction in HIV and hepatitis C virus incidence.

In the bill’s statement of purpose, it states that there hasn’t been enough evidence demonstrated that the programs have been a conduit to treatment.

The committee introduced the bill on a party-line vote, with the Democrats voting against it. It can now come back for a public hearing.

Guido covers Idaho politics for the Lewiston Tribune, Moscow-Pullman Daily News and Idaho Press of Nampa. She may be contacted at lguido@idahopress.com and can be found on X, formerly Twitter, @EyeOnBoiseGuido.