Burlington’s needle exchange program will be the subject of a study in the coming months, addressing the growing problem of needles littering city streets in conjunction with the growing drug crisis.

The Burlington City Council unanimously approved a resolution at an Oct. 28 meeting 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 both examine the effectiveness of needle exchange programs and research strategies to reduce needle waste in Burlington, including recommendations for environmentally friendly policies and practices for disposal. syringes, methods or costs to encourage safe return.

The resolution was presented to council by Councilor Evan Litwin, Ward D 7, who cited concern for the safety of maintenance workers, landscapers and trash haulers.

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

Litwin’s proposed resolution says Howard Center staff are seeing fewer syringes coming back than in previous years, in contrast to the increasing numbers it is distributing. He said it was concerning enough to investigate further.

Board of Health President Celia Bird was present at the city council meeting and spoke in favor of the study, saying the Board of Health would study how Burlington’s current needle exchange could be improved, possibly by replicating programs from other cities.

A problem that is quickly growing

According to Howard Center Safe Recovery staff, 20,000 syringes are distributed each month and about 5,000 are returned to the Howard Center Safe Recovery on Clarke Street. This leaves 75% of all outgoing syringes unaccounted for. For comparison, 2018 data indicates that of the 651,464 syringes distributed, approximately 63% were returned.

While not 100% accurate data, See Click Fix has been a barometer of the issues Burlington residents are noticing and prioritizing. See Click Fix is ​​a platform that allows residents to report problems, identify repair needs, share feedback, and ask questions of their local government leaders.

Burlington received more than 740 See Click Fix reports involving a syringe in the first nine months of 2023, three times more than the previous year, according to staff.

What to do when you find needles

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

If you get stuck by someone else’s needle, be sure to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. See a doctor immediately.

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

If you feel unsafe or don’t have the proper equipment to care for the syringe, Litwin recommends taking a photo and posting it on See Click Fix. He said to be as detailed as possible because these are very small objects that will need to be located, so include an address or identifiable objects nearby. In View Click Fix, select “Syringe” from the drop-down menu. A city employee should respond.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington City Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

This article was originally published on Burlington Free Press: Burlington to Study Backstreet Needle Exchange Program