Sec. 10.52.01.05. Program Design and Operation

A. The CBO or local health department approved to operate an OADPO program:

(1) Shall provide protocols for the safety and security of OADPO program locations, equipment, and staff in accordance with Regulation .06 of this chapter that:

(a) Control the dissemination of hypodermic needles and syringes; and

(b) Allow for a full accounting of the number of hypodermic needles and syringes managed by the program;

(2) Shall offer participants:

(a) Overdose prevention education;

(b) Access to or a referral to obtain naloxone; and

(c) Harm reduction education;

(3) Shall ensure that all OADPO program staff have:

(a) Appropriate levels of expertise in working with individuals who inject drugs;

(b) Knowledge of harm reduction strategies; and

(c) Skills in implementing harm reduction strategies;

(4) Shall ensure that all OADPO program staff receive training approved by the Department to work with injection drug users and to provide referrals to:

(a) Community services;

(b) Counseling; and

(c) Preventative education;

(5) Shall ensure that all OADPO program staff demonstrate sensitivity to participant differences including:

(a) Cultural;

(b) Behavioral; and

(c) Values;

(6) Shall ensure that information collected to identify OADPO program participants is kept confidential according to:

(a) Health-General Article, §24-906(b), Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(b) 42 CFR Part 2;

(7) Shall ensure that there is a method of identification and authorization for OADPO program staff members who have access to:

(a) Hypodermic needles;

(b) Syringes; and

(c) OADPO program records;

(8) Shall develop and provide a protocol for linking participants to:

(a) Substance abuse treatment services;

(b) Testing for:

(i) HIV;

(ii) Viral hepatitis; and

(iii) STIs;

(c) Reproductive health services;

(d) Wound care; and

(e) Naloxone;

(9) Shall disseminate hypodermic needles or syringes and other preventive means for curtailing the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis at no cost to participants, including but not limited to:

(a) Injection supplies; and

(b) Safer sex supplies; and

(10) May not discriminate against participants based on factors including but not limited to:

(a) Culture;

(b) Language;

(c) Ability;

(d) Socioeconomic status;

(e) Sexual orientation;

(f) Gender identity;

(g) Age;

(h) Religion;

(i) Race; and

(j) Ethnicity.

B. Identification Card. OADPO program staff shall:

(1) Give each participant an identification card that includes the participant’s OADPO program identification number;

(2) Advise participants to carry the identification card with them at all times; and

(3) If the identification card is lost by a participant, re-issue an identification card to the participant.

C. The CBO or local health department approved to operate an OADPO program may offer other services to OADPO program participants, including:

(1) Testing for:

(a) HIV;

(b) Viral hepatitis; and

(c) STIs;

(2) Wound care;

(3) Reproductive health services; and

(4) Substance abuse counseling, treatment, and recovery services.