Syringe/Needle Exchange Services

The Needle Exchange program aims to protect public safety and community health by reducing the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C due to people sharing syringes.

The program works to keep sterile syringes accessible so that those who inject drugs or hormones do not feel a need to share their syringes and risk becoming infected with HIV, HCV, or another blood borne disease. Please see our Harm Reduction Philosophy below for concerns about the efficacy of syringe exchange.

Syringe Exchange for People Who Inject Drugs

Needle exchange services are available for individuals who inject drugs, providing new needles and accepting used syringes for safe disposal. Operating on a one-for-one exchange basis, the program also offers safer injection kits for those without used needles to trade. Sharps containers and other harm reduction supplies, such as alcohol wipes, cotton, and bandages are provided as funding allows. Additionally, a wound care doctor is available, and overdose prevention kits are distributed to help reduce risks.

Exchange events are held in multiple locations, including Eugene, Springfield, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Cottage Grove, Brookings, and more. For specific times and locations, please refer to the calendar below.

HIV Alliance provides certified training and naloxone to syringe exchange clients, first responders, and the general public. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a life-saving drug that can prevent or reverse an opioid overdose.

The drug has to be administered as soon as overdose symptoms begin. Its effects are almost immediate, blocking and reversing the brain’s opioid receptor and restoring respiration to a person whose breathing has either slowed or stopped due to heroin or prescription opioid pain medications.

The drug comes in several forms. Click here for an online training on injectable naloxone and nasal spray.

For information on how to schedule a community overdose prevention (naloxone) training, contact HIV Alliance Prevention Manager Dane Zahner at prevention@allianceor.org.

Harm Reduction is a public health philosophy that seeks to empower individuals, remove barriers to accessing the support that they need, and supply pragmatic approaches to risk reduction in a non-judgmental/non-coercive way that is compassionate and accepting of any positive change. Harm Reduction supports a wide spectrum of strategies from doing the behavior more safely, to limiting certain behaviors, to abstinence. HIV Alliance is a member of harm reduction focused groups across our service region, including the Harm Reduction Coalition of Lane County.

Despite evidence from many studies that needle exchange programs are highly cost-effective ways to prevent HIV and have not been found to increase drug use, harm reduction programs continue to be heavily contested here in the US and around the world. On a global basis, about $100 billion is spent annually on the war on drugs.

Research by Harm Reduction International indicates that if even as little as 7.5% of this $100 billion is redirected to harm reduction programs, by 2030 there would be 94% fewer new HIV infections among people who inject drugs.

HIV Alliance is the only agency providing comprehensive needle exchange programs in Lane, Douglas, and Josephine Counties, but we need your help to continue doing so. Please consider making a small donation today.

With each dollar, we are able to purchase 10 new syringes. It truly makes a difference. Click here and be the difference!