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

   1. (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:

      1. (a) Control the dissemination of hypodermic needles and syringes; and
      2. (b) Allow for a full accounting of the number of hypodermic needles and syringes managed by the program;

   2. (2) Shall offer participants:

      1. (a) Overdose prevention education;
      2. (b) Access to or a referral to obtain naloxone; and
      3. (c) Harm reduction education;

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

      1. (a) Appropriate levels of expertise in working with individuals who inject drugs;
      2. (b) Knowledge of harm reduction strategies; and
      3. (c) Skills in implementing harm reduction strategies;

   4. (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:

      1. (a) Community services;
      2. (b) Counseling; and
      3. (c) Preventative education;

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

      1. (a) Cultural;
      2. (b) Behavioral; and
      3. (c) Values;

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

      1. (a) Health-General Article, §24-906(b), Annotated Code of Maryland; and
      2. (b) 42 CFR Part 2;

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

      1. (a) Hypodermic needles;
      2. (b) Syringes; and
      3. (c) OADPO program records;

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

      1. (a) Substance abuse treatment services;

      2. (b) Testing for:

         1. (i) HIV;
         2. (ii) Viral hepatitis; and
         3. (iii) STIs;
      3. (c) Reproductive health services;
      4. (d) Wound care; and
      5. (e) Naloxone;

   9. (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:

      1. (a) Injection supplies; and
      2. (b) Safer sex supplies; and

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

       1. (a) Culture;
       2. (b) Language;
       3. (c) Ability;
       4. (d) Socioeconomic status;
       5. (e) Sexual orientation;
       6. (f) Gender identity;
       7. (g) Age;
       8. (h) Religion;
       9. (i) Race; and
       10. (j) Ethnicity.

2. B. Identification Card. OADPO program staff shall:

   1. (1) Give each participant an identification card that includes the participant’s OADPO program identification number;
   2. (2) Advise participants to carry the identification card with them at all times; and
   3. (3) If the identification card is lost by a participant, re-issue an identification card to the participant.

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

   1. (1) Testing for:

      1. (a) HIV;
      2. (b) Viral hepatitis; and
      3. (c) STIs;
   2. (2) Wound care;
   3. (3) Reproductive health services; and
   4. (4) Substance abuse counseling, treatment, and recovery services.

Authority: Health-General Article, §§24-901—24-909, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: April 24, 2017 (44:8 Md. R. 404)