Santa Monica Residents Call for an End to Needle Exchange Program in Parks

Santa Monica Residents Call for an End to Needle Exchange Program in Parks
A sign sits on the display in front of a popular shopping area of Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Jamie Joseph
Updated:
0:00

A needle exchange program for drug users sanctioned by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health operating in a handful of Santa Monica’s public spaces has sparked outrage among a coalition of business owners and residents who are calling on the county to move it indoors.

The group claims that rather than curbing drug use, the program has only attracted more transients and drug peddlers, leading to an unsafe environment for the community over the last year.

Jamie Joseph
Jamie Joseph
Author
Jamie is a California-based reporter covering issues in Los Angeles and state policies for The Epoch Times. In her free time, she enjoys reading nonfiction and thrillers, going to the beach, studying Christian theology, and writing poetry. You can always find Jamie writing breaking news with a cup of tea in hand.
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