Brockton nonprofit gave away needles, didn't take any back

BROCKTON, Mass. — A local non-profit admitted a needle exchange program did not follow pre-set guidelines on how may needles would be given to drug users.

It gave away thousands of clean needles to addicts, without asking for any in return.

The needle exchange is new program, but the community services agency C.O.P.E. Center  has been in Brockton for 25 years. It's funded by state money, which is why the lack of supervision over how many needles were being handed out concerned city officials.

“It was coming across as a free for all, but that wasn't the original intent,” said City Councilor Anne Beauregard.

Earlier this week, Brockton’s mayor wrote city health officials a letter expressing his concern after learning the program was not a one for one exchange.

The C.O.P.E. Center  is under the BAMSI umbrella, and CEO Tony Simonelli promised the program would be.

“I got it wrong. I have no problems admitting I made a mistake, in terms of information,” Simonelli told FOX25.

Simonelli said he too was surprised to learn that up until this week, users could take up to 10 clean needles from the center - without providing a single used needle in exchange

“Having needles in the street is a danger to the community, and we want to help clean that up,” she said.

Simonelli says the C.O.P.E. Center has since changed policy on needle exchange, and he stands by the good work his agency is doing for an endangered population.

But city officials still have doubts - and said Simonelli has more explaining to do.

Simonelli denies any suggestion that Cope Center is to blame for Brockton’s rampant needle issue. He said since May, the C.O.P.E. center has given out 29,000 needles and received 28,000 in return, which is better than the state average.

Simonelli also said workers at the center routinely pick up needles in the community, averaging 500 a week, helping to combat the issue.

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