County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Public Health Policy
Anna Long, Ph.D., MPH
241 N. Figueroa St. Room 806
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-8036
Fax: (213) 975-1273
Public Health Policy is an administrative office responsible primarily for the coordination of legislative and administrative
policy efforts within the Department of Public Health. Public Health's role in legislative policy issues is twofold:
To review and analyze proposed legislation related to public health issues of importance in Los Angeles County and
recommended legislative positions; and
To advocate for initiating legislation on policy issues focused on improving the public's health in Los Angeles County
Special Projects
Nonprescription Syringe Sales through Pharmacies (NPSS)
The NPSS is a statewide program designed to reduce the spread of
HIV, hepatitis C, and
other blood-borne pathogens. Established in 2012, the program expand
legal access to hypodermic needles and syringes for all Californian
in order to reduce the sharing of contaminated injection equipment.
Beginning January 1, 2012, the law allows adults 18 years of age or
over to purchase and possess up to 30 syringes from pharmacies with
out a prescription.
Every year, 8 million people across the country use more than 3 billion sharps (needles, syringes, and lancets)
to manage medical conditions at home. Disposing of sharps safely is very important for preventing accidental needle-stick
injuries and the transmission of blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis and HIV. Used sharps and syringes should be
brought a collection center for proper disposal. Please do not throw them in the general trash.
To locate a sharps collection site near you, please contact the Home-Generated Sharps Waste Management Program at
1 (888)CLEAN-LA or visit
www.888CleanLA.com.
Working with community partners, the Los Angeles County Syringe Exchange Program provides clean needles
and syringes to intravenous drug users in exchange for used ones in an effort to reduce the sharing of contaminated
needles. Additional services such as HIV/AIDS counseling, wound-care, and drug treatment referrals are available to
participants through this program.
