Are needle exchange programs still banned in Pueblo?

PUEBLO — Can the city of Pueblo ban needle exchange programs? On Tuesday, a judge heard arguments from both sides on whether or not the city violated state law when Pueblo City Council members passed an ordinance banning these programs.

A city ordinance banning needle exchange programs went into effect in May. For two weeks, organizations like Access Point and the Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association were not allowed to give out syringes.

“The time, the few days that the temporary restraining order was in place and people stopped coming because the main reason they come is for the needles. We hope to bring them in, build relationships with them and connect them to behavioral health services, to treatment services, and that’s what we’re doing,” said Darrell Vigil, CEO of Colorado Health Network and Access Point.

“Colorado Health Network has been around since 1983 and our mission is to help people living with HIV and also to prevent the transmission of HIV and other health conditions. We are truly here to improve communities,” Vigil said.

The second organization that offers needle exchange programs in Pueblo is the Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association (SCHRA). Jude Solano is CEO of SCHRA and was in court for Tuesday’s hearing.

“We provide other services, but without this particular service in particular, we don’t have access to people coming in and really knowing what their options are,” Solano said.

In June, the ACLU filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary restraining order against the ban. This allowed the syringes to be manipulated again.

“This is a safe zone where they can get clean supplies, and we’re building relationships with them and providing the other systems,” Solano said.

Solano said she wants to better educate people about the work her association does.

“People really don’t understand why we are doing this and what the implications of not doing this would be on our community. The impacts would be severe and it’s not a good thing to think about,” Solano said.

In court, the ACLU argued that Colorado state law allows organizations to operate syringe programs without local interference. But the city’s attorney said the ACLU didn’t provide enough evidence that the city’s ordinance violates state law.

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“I appreciated that the judge asked the questions, if the statute says we have to operate as a syringe exchange program, but we’re not allowed to exchange syringes, how can we call ourselves that? So I’m okay with the conflict itself, aren’t I,” Solano said.

The judge ruled that the restraining order will remain in effect until the judge makes a final decision.

“I thought today’s session was pretty straightforward. I think hearing both sides of the argument, I felt like our attorneys did a really good job of presenting the facts, talking about the legalities, and I feel pretty good about our position,” Vigil said.

Until then, SCHRA and Access Point can operate their needle exchange program.

“I think for us, it’s business as usual. We will continue to provide our harm reduction services, helping to improve the community here in Pueblo and helping to save lives,” said Vigil.

People who oppose prohibition tell me that they think needles are a tool for people to take drugs, which enables addiction. Other people have expressed their problems with taxpayer money being used to fund these programs, saying they think needle exchanges should be privately owned.

The judge will return with a decision in two to three weeks.

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The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office advised against releasing the report

Following a series of inmate escapes from the Fremont County Jail, News 5 sought answers about how a series of inmate escapes happened with the most recent breakout in June 2024.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office will not release the escaped inmate report

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