To:

Falmouth Board of Health

From: AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod
Date: July 2018
Subject: ASGCC Prevention and Screening Proposal

The AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod (ASGCC) provides the following proposal as an introduction to
our evidence-based prevention, screening, and harm reduction approach, in response to the growing number
of opioid-related overdose deaths on the Cape and Islands and acquisition and transmission of HIV/HCV
amongst people who inject drugs (PWID).
ASGCC’s Prevention and Screening (P&S) program includes: cost-free and confidential HIV/HCV and
STI testing, expedited access to PrEP, overdose education, Narcan distribution, and syringe retrieval, disposal,
and distribution services, utilizing the Harm Reduction Model. This model fills a critical service gap addressing
the health needs and supporting incremental changes of PWID, by reducing the potential harms associated
with injection drug use and empowering individuals, their friends, and family members to recognize and
reverse overdoses.
Based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention study, Characteristics of Fentanyl Overdose
— Massachusetts, 2014–2016, Massachusetts opioid deaths increased by 150 percent between 2012 and
2015. This study states that, “fentanyl has been a major contributing factor to the rapid increase in opioid
overdoses in southeastern Massachusetts and reflects a growing national public health issue,” reaffirming the
importance of syringe access, overdose education, and Narcan distribution programming.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, ASGCC collected 13 percent more syringes than were distributed. Since
2008, the agency has completed 2,500+ new enrollments and 2,000+ refills for Narcan, and 700+ individuals
in Barnstable County have been rescued with Narcan distributed by the agency. Currently, there are few
options for syringe retrieval, disposal, and distribution in Falmouth, and accessing clean syringes at
pharmacies is a barrier for individuals seeking ASGCC’s P&S services. The closest syringe access programs
(SAP) are in Hyannis, New Bedford, and Brockton, and transportation is a barrier for many participants.
ASGCC currently serves close to 60 participants from the Falmouth area at our Hyannis SAP.
ASGCC connects participants to both internal and external services, such as screenings, overdose
prevention education, sexual and reproductive health services, mental health services, substance abuse
treatment, and housing, in addition to others. ASGCC provides up-to-date information to participants by
sharing Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) clinical advisories and alerts.
In order for ASGCC to receive MA DPH funding for a Falmouth SAP, ASGCC must first receive official
approval from the Falmouth Board of Health (BOH), with a letter from the Health Agent directly to the MA
DPH Bureau of Infectious Disease Director. ASGCC is available to assist the Falmouth BOH in establishing a
SAP, which would be the first in Falmouth.

Questions regarding this proposal may be directed to:

Katie Riconda, MPA
Director of Prevention and Screening
428 South Street
Hyannis, MA
kriconda@asgcc.org