The bill would allow communities statewide to benefit from proven public health harm-reduction measures
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 5178 on Friday with a vote of 56-0 to ensure syringe service programs can legally operate statewide and continue using harm-reduction tools to end the opioid epidemic. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) offer a variety of public health tools, including naloxone distribution, needle exchanges, testing, and links to treatment, to fight overdose deaths and the spread of diseases through drug use.
The bill would explicitly authorize the establishment and operation of SSPs statewide and clarify that equipment provided by SSPs is 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.
“The passing of HB 5178 will allow those who are working to reduce drug poisoning deaths and those most affected by the overdose epidemic to obtain lifesaving materials without fear of criminal prosecution,” said Andrew Coleman, LMSW, Manager, Behavioral Healthcare Programs, ACCESS Community Health & Research Center. “The passing of HB5178 also allows our law enforcement community to focus on the larger challenges of substance use in the community. It also provides law enforcement the much-needed break from tackling non-violent drug paraphernalia behaviors and focusing their efforts on gun violence, gang involvement, and youth prevention of substance use,” Coleman said.
“Passing HB 5178 allows syringe access programs to do their jobs and provide lifesaving harm reduction tools, services, and education in Michigan communities,” said Emily Pratt, health educator with the Marquette County Health Department New Points Program.
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.