Addiction Drug Use Heroin Safe Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 17, 2020 Fact checked by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim on August 21, 2020 LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Those who inject drugs, either into a vein, a muscle, or under the skin, have a higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV, hepatitis, and other bloodborne infections because of unsterile needles and syringes. To help reduce that risk, community-based needle exchange programs (NEPs) and syringe exchange programs (SEPs) exist. They provide drug users access to sterile needles and syringes at no cost and safely dispose of used needles and syringes—all without increasing illegal drug use or crime. Many needle and syringe exchange programs also offer other disease prevention products, such as alcohol swabs, condoms, and vials of sterile water, as well as education on safer injection practices, wound care, and overdose prevention. Many also provide referrals to important services such as substance use treatment programs; testing and treatment for HIV and hepatitis C; hepatitis vaccinations; screening for other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis; and other social, mental, and medical services. By their very nature, needle and syringe exchange programs, also known as syringe access or syringe service programs, require a private and secluded location. This protects the privacy of people who use the program. As of 2018, 86 countries worldwide reported having needle and syringe exchange programs. So where do you find a needle exchange program without revealing your drug addiction? Below are some needle exchange resources for several worldwide locations. United States Syringe Exchange Programs (By State) Image Source/Getty Images This list of local harm reduction resources offered by the North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN) provides locations of syringe exchange programs in the United States. As of 2020, there are 430 sites in NASEN's directory, with the majority of states having at least one syringe exchange program. The website also offers a list of safety resources for drug users. Canada Needle Exchange Programs There isn't currently an online system detailing all the needle exchange programs by province. However, your local health authority should have a list of needle exchange programs and locations. This link to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority website, for example, allows people in the Vancouver area to search for the needle exchange closest to them. UK Needle Exchange Schemes There are many needle exchanges in the United Kingdom, which include pharmacies and specialist services. The easiest way to find the location of your nearest needle exchange is to ask at your local pharmacy (which may actually have one), ask your doctor, or look up your local Drug Action Team in the phone book or online. You can also call the National Health Service (NHS) helpline for free, confidential information on local services and self-help resources by dialing 111. Ireland Needle Exchange Schemes Drugs.ie has a list of needle and syringe exchanges in Ireland. You can also contact your local pharmacy to see if they offer a needle exchange program. Western Australia Needle and Syringe Exchange The Needle and Syringe Exchange Program provides clean equipment and disposal services both on-site and via a mobile service. South Australia Clean Needle Program Download a list of Clean Needle Program providers in South Australia and learn more about the program at the Government of South Australia's website. New Zealand Needle Exchanges The Needle Exchange Programme's website offers a complete listing of all the needle exchanges in New Zealand as well as contact info for each. Safe Needle Disposal If you can't find a needle exchange program, please dispose of your used needles responsibly. Don't put them in the trash. Give them to your local pharmacy, doctor's office, or hospital, which may provide you with a sharps container. If a disposal container is not available, many U.S. states recommend using a bottle with a screw-top cap that's carefully marked as containing needles. Please note that people often collect used bottles and cans to collect recycling fee refunds, so be sure to dispose of the bottle in a location unlikely to be accessed by the public, and choose a bottle that cannot be pierced and does not have a recycling refund. Soda bottles are particularly risky because they are attractive to bottle collectors. Reusing Needles Reusing needles is hazardous, not only because of the risk of infection but also because needles get blunter with each use and can damage your veins. If you do reuse a needle, first clean it thoroughly with full-strength household bleach for at least 30 seconds and flush it out with boiled water to reduce the risk of infection. Never use a needle that has been used by someone else, even if that person is a friend. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Pasa MK, Alom KR, Bashri Z, Vermund SH. Sharing of Needles and Syringes among Men Who Inject Drugs: HIV Risk in Northwest Bangladesh. PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0148276. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148276 Avert. Needle and syringe programmes (NSPS) for HIV prevention. Updated October 10, 2019. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel. Updated August 30, 2018. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Disposing of needles and syringes. 2020. University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. Insulin: reusing syringes and lancets safely. Updated December 20, 2019. Additional Reading Binka M, Paintsil E, Patel A, Lindenbach BD, Heimer R. Disinfection of Syringes Contaminated with Hepatitis C Virus by Rinsing with Household Products. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2015;2(1):ofv017. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofv017 Speak to a Therapist for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.