Does needle exchange increase the number of contaminated syringes on the streets?
No. Needle exchange programs actually encourage individuals to retrieve dirty needles from the streets to trade them in at the needle exchange site. In fact, the discarding of used, infectious needles on the streets was virtually eliminated due to needle exchange in New Haven, according to a US Conference of Mayors report. Eliminating needles on the streets can reduce the risk of accidental needle sticks to children and others. Law enforcement officials report that “pat downs” of those individuals participating in a needle exchange program are less likely to result in needle sticks because syringes are more likely to be capped.
