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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="24-903" title_number="24" title_name="Miscellaneous Provisions" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Opioid–associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A Program shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Be designed and maintained to provide security of Program locations and equipment, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Be operated to allow participants to obtain and return hypodermic needles and syringes at any Program location, if more than one location is available;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Include appropriate levels of staff expertise in working with individuals who inject drugs;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Include adequate staff training in providing community referrals, counseling, and preventive education;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Provide for the dissemination of other preventive means for curtailing the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Provide linkage to additional services, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Substance–related disorder counseling, treatment, and recovery services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Testing for HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Reproductive health education and services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Wound care; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>The services of an overdose response program under Title 13, Subtitle 31 of this article;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Educate participants on the dangers of contracting HIV and viral hepatitis;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>Provide overdose prevention education and access to naloxone, or a referral for a participant to obtain naloxone;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>Establish procedures for identifying Program participants that are consistent with the confidentiality provisions of this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>Establish a method of identification and authorization for Program staff members and Program volunteers who have access to hypodermic needles, syringes, or Program records; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>Develop a plan for data collection and Program evaluation in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A Program may offer additional services, including:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Substance–related disorder counseling, treatment, and recovery services;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Testing for HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Reproductive health education and services;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Wound care; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The services of an overdose response program under Title 13, Subtitle 31 of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>With the technical assistance of the Standing Advisory Committee, a Program shall develop:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Program operating procedures for the distribution, collection, and safe disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A community outreach and education plan; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A protocol for linking Program participants to substance–related disorder treatment and recovery services.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>After receiving technical assistance from the Standing Advisory Committee, a Program shall submit the operating procedures, plan for community outreach and education, and protocol for linking Program participants to substance–related disorder treatment and recovery services developed under subsection (c) of this section for approval to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The local health officer for each county in which a Program is established; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
