The number of hepatitis C reports has increased 19 percent over the past five years, according to the Dartmouth Board of Health, but one advocacy organization plans to curb this trend by handing out free syringes.

Seven Hills Behavioral Health Representative Connie Rocha-Mimoso said that reusing and sharing needles is a large contributor to the spread of hepatitis C and HIV. To combat these behaviors, the organization plans to expand its Dartmouth services to include handing out free, clean syringes in exchange for used ones.

“Our goal is really to retrieve as many syringes out of the community that we give out,” she said at the March 21 Board of Health meeting. Users already have access to syringes, she said.

“It’s the second part. They’re sharing them. They’re reusing them. What’s missing is where we engage with individuals and talk to them about prevention,” she said.

Rocha-Mimoso explained that currently Seven Hills can collect dirty syringes, but it can’t legally give out clean ones without both town and state approval. Since users’ syringes won’t be replaced, they’re less likely to turn them in, which increases the risk of infection and reinfection, especially between partners, said Rocha-Mimoso.

“The big piece is connecting these individuals who are out of care and get them tested and into a treatment facility,” said Rocha-Mimoso. Seven Hills does offer blood testing. It targets individuals at risk of HIV, hepatitis C, and overdose, and returns their results. Seven Hills has a 98 percent return rate, Rocha-Mimoso said.

“You also have a record of them at that point, so you can follow up, two, three months later,” said the Health Board’s Lynne Brodeur. The Health Board unanimously approved the syringe program.

The program would expand Seven Hill's mobile services, which it has operated in Dartmouth for the past two years. The organization not only connects individuals to clinical services in its New Bedford and Fall River locations, but also gives out hygiene packages, educates on proper needle disposal, hands out condoms, and canvases high-traffic areas and picks up needles... all out of a Dodge caravan.

“It wouldn’t have the impact on the person in need or the community if it were ‘just a needle,’” said Public Health Director Chris Michaud. “The exchange of the syringe is much more meaningful for the person getting that clean syringe because of all the comprehensive services [Seven Hills] offers. They’re building a relationship with that person.”

If the state Department of Public Health approves the program in Dartmouth, SHBH staff could start handing out clean syringes within the next month. The syringe program began in Taunton, and will also be unrolling in Fall River and Wareham soon, said Rocha-Mimoso.