An Open Letter by Bob Scott, former Captain with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office
As a former Captain with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, I commend the collaborative work of the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition. I fully support their mission to expand awareness and to advocate for Syringe Decriminalization (SD) in North Carolina.
I have seen the violent impact of the drug war from the perspective of a journalist and a law enforcement officer. From each angle, I have watched the human casualties associated with prohibition mount and sow devastation in every sector of our society. Now as the ravages of the HIV/AIDS epidemic sweep through our communities, felling loved ones who have become addicted, I say there is something we can do to turn the tide, and that positive action is embodied in SD.
The war on drugs has consigned the estimated 25,000 – 50,000 IDUs in NC to the shadows of shame. Hidden away and without access to a clean supply of needles, they have contributed to over 35,000 cumulative HIV cases and 150,000 known hepatitis C cases in our state. This is costly in terms of human life and suffering and in bottom line dollars for the taxpayers of our state. These costs are preventable with SEPs and syringe decriminalization.
Several years ago we had an outbreak of hepatitis from sharing syringes. Hepatitis C costs over $100,000 to treat and over $400,000 if it requires a liver transplant, thus it was a great expense to the state and the taxpayers of Macon County.
Syringe Decriminalization would take dirty needles off the streets by allowing syringe users to safely dispose of syringes without legal consequence and increase the safety of our police officers. Indeed, these programs have decreased needle stick injuries to law enforcement by 66% and that is critical for the brave men and women on the front lines of the failed current policy on syringe criminalization. This is evidenced by 1 in 3 officers getting a needlestick in their lifetime, this is unacceptable.
As a former law enforcement officer, it is clear to me that we need to get the profit out of the drug trade so traffickers have no incentive to continue hooking our children on drugs and dealing. Equally clear is the need to vigorously promote a gateway for treatment to IDUs. Addiction is a public health issue, not a crime. Syringe Decriminalization would allow us at syringe disposal points and pharmacies to increase our points of contact with addicts so they can see that gateway to treatment, and walk through it.
SD saves money and lives, protect law enforcement, and increase public safety. Scientific research strongly supports this policy, as do many in law enforcement. Now is the time to lift legal barriers to SD. I applaud the dedicated work of the NCHRC and encourage our state legislators to vote in favor of the syringe decriminalization bill when it comes before them.
An Interview with Corporal D.A. Jackson from the Guilford County Sheriff
Editor's Note: The content of this article is based on the personal opinions of Corp. Jackson and does not reflect the views of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department.
One in three law enforcement officers in areas without harm reduction programs can expect to be pricked by a potentially infectious needle during their tenure. With the risks that officers run every day to protect our communities from harm, it’s important that community members also do their part to protect the officers, for example, through the implementation of harm reduction programs. Syringe decriminalization (SD) help keep dirty needles off our streets and parks and are shown to reduce the risk of needle pricks for officers by 66%.
Corporal D.A. Jackson has served in law enforcement for over 26 years, 18 in the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department. She has seen firsthand the need for effective harm reduction programs in North Carolina and the benefits of these programs to law enforcement.
“In the past 26 years I’ve worked every kind of case from misdemeanors such as bicycle theft to homicides,” she says. “One of the main components of a law enforcement officer’s job is to conduct searches. We search people, homes, vehicles, and storage compartments; we stick our hands in places most people wouldn’t think to touch, and in every search we are at risk for needlesticks and contracting infectious diseases. I support harm reduction programs because I’ll advocate for anything that protects my life and the lives of my fellow officers.”
Corporal Jackson understands the benefits of harm reduction programs to law enforcement, but not all officers share her view. "Many fear that syringe decriminalization encourage drug use, though in fact, numerous studies by the Institute of Medicine have demonstrated that syringe access programs and syringe decriminalization actually decrease drug use, crime, and needlesticks."
“Drug addiction is a serious problem,” says Corp. Jackson, “but I believe in helping people. Harm reduction is a win-win situation because not only do these programs help protect officers from needlesticks, they also create an opportunity for dialogue that can lead to rehabilitation for drug users. It’s important for officers to see themselves as part of creating solutions to community issues, and not just booking crimes.”
Corporal Jackson is confident that harm reduction programs will eventually be adapted throughout North Carolina. “It will take time,” she says. “People will be resistant at first, but it will happen and law enforcement will be a part of the solution.”
