House Bill 5178 would authorize harm reduction measures throughout Michigan
LANSING, Mich. — The House Health Policy Committee voted on Thursday to advance House Bill 5178 out of Committee to the full Michigan House of Representatives for consideration. Sponsored by Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), the bill will ensure syringe service programs can legally operate throughout the state and continue to successfully use harm-reduction tools to end the opioid epidemic.
Currently, many municipalities criminalize harm reduction activities, even though syringes and other equipment provided by health programs are not classified as drug paraphernalia.
House Bill 5178 would explicitly authorize the establishment and operation of SSPs in state law. It would also clarify that equipment provided by SSPs—such as needles and syringes—are not considered drug paraphernalia under state or local law. Individuals who are obtaining or returning syringes would also be protected from arrest, prosecution, charges, or convictions with proof of membership.
“Both as a volunteer and community member, I have seen first-hand how these programs save lives,” Rheingans said. “The opioid overdose epidemic is not over, and we must ensure these crucial public health programs are available in every corner of the state. It is urgent we get this done.”
During 2024 alone, Michigan’s SSPs provided nearly 2,500 referrals to substance use disorder treatment, distributed over 40,000 naloxone kits, and saved nearly 2,600 lives from overdose, along with distributing over 2 million needles, according to the Michigan Syringe Service Program Report.
For more information about SSPs, visit www.mioverdoseprevention.com.