Burlington study greenlights needle exchange program

Burlington’s needle exchange program will be the subject of a study in the coming months aimed at addressing the growing problem of syringes littering city streets amid the growing drug crisis.

The Burlington City Council, at its Oct. 28 meeting, unanimously approved a resolution giving the Board of Health the green light to conduct a comprehensive study and subsequent report to the City Council by Feb. 18, 2025.

The study will examine both the effectiveness of syringe exchange programs and the search for strategies to reduce syringe waste in Burlington, including recommendations for environmentally sound syringe disposal policies and practices, methods, or costs to encourage safe return.

The resolution was presented to the council by Councilman Evan Litwin, D-District 7, who expressed concerns about the safety of prison workers, landscapers and trash haulers.

Most of the needles come from Howard’s Safe Recovery Centers, which aim to reduce drug-related harms such as fatal drug overdoses. They provide clean syringes, as well as free Narcan and overdose prevention training, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, HIV and hepatitis C testing and care.

Litwin’s proposed resolution said Howard Center staff are seeing fewer needles being returned than in previous years, in contrast to the growing number they are distributing. He said it was serious enough to warrant further investigation.

Board of Health Chair Celia Byrd attended the City Council meeting and spoke in support of the study, saying the Board of Health will study how Burlington’s current needle exchange program can be improved, perhaps by replicating programs in other cities.

A fast growing problem

Howard Safe Recovery Center staff say 20,000 syringes are given out each month and approximately 5,000 are returned to the Howard Safe Recovery Center on Clark Street. As a result, 75% of all outgoing syringes remain unaccounted for. By comparison, 2018 data showed that of the 651,464 syringes issued, approximately 63% were returned.

While See Click Fix data is not 100% accurate, it serves as a barometer of what issues Burlington residents notice and prioritize. See Click Fix is ​​a platform that allows residents to report problems, identify repair needs, share feedback and ask questions to local government leaders.

Burlington received more than 740 See Click Fix reports about syringes in the first nine months of 2023, three times more than the previous year, staff said.

What to do if you find needles

If you come across a syringe, The Department of Health has some tips for safe disposal..

If you are pricked by someone else’s needle, be sure to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Then seek medical help immediately.

If you find a needle, you can dispose of it yourself by taking a few simple precautions: Wear heavy-duty gloves and use pliers or tongs to place the needle in a thick plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle. Screw the lid on and seal it well with strong tape, such as duct tape. Write “Do Not Recycle” on the container and throw it in your regular trash.

If you feel unsafe or don’t have the proper equipment to care for the syringe, Litvin advises that you take a photo and post it on the See Click Fix website. He said to be as detailed as possible because these are very small items that will need to be found, so include an address or identifiable items where they are located nearby. Under See Click Fix, select “Syringe” from the drop-down menu. A city employee should respond.

Sidney P. Hakes is a Burlington city reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on the Burlington Free Press website: Burlington will explore needle exchange program like syringes on small streets