Burlington greenlights investigation into needle exchange program

The Burlington Needle Exchange Program will be explored in the coming months, addressing the growing problem of syringes being distributed on the city’s streets, coupled with the growing drug crisis.

The Burlington City Council unanimously approved a resolution at an October 28 meeting giving the Board of Health the green light to conduct a comprehensive investigation by February 18, 2025 and then report back to the City Council.

The study will both examine the effectiveness of syringe exchange programs and look for strategies to reduce syringe litter in Burlington, including recommendations for environmentally friendly syringe disposal policies and practices, methods or costs to encourage safe returns.

The resolution was brought to the council by Councilman Evan Litwin, D-Ward 7, who expressed concerns about the safety of jail staff, landscapers and garbage haulers.

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

Litwin’s proposed resolution states that Howard Center staff are seeing fewer needles returned than in previous years, in contrast to the growing number they are handing out. He said it is of sufficient concern to warrant further investigation.

Celia Bird, chair of the Board of Health, was at the council meeting and spoke in support of the research. She said the Board of Health will explore how to improve Burlington’s current syringe exchange, possibly by mirroring programs in other cities.

A rapidly growing problem

According to Howard Center Safe Recovery staff, 20,000 syringes are distributed each month and approximately 5,000 are returned to Howard Center Safe Recovery on Clarke Street. This means that 75% of all outgoing syringes remain missing. By comparison, 2018 data showed that of the 651,464 syringes distributed, about 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 to their local government leaders.

Burlington received more than 740 See Click Fix syringe notifications in the first nine months of 2023, which staff say is three times as many as the year before.

What should you do if you find needles?

If you encounter a syringe, the Ministry of Health has some tips for safe disposal.

If you get stuck on someone else’s needle, make sure you wash the wound well with soap and water. Then seek medical help immediately.

If you find a needle, you can dispose of it yourself with a few simple precautions: Put on heavy-duty gloves and use pliers or pliers to place the needle into a thick plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle. Screw the lid on and tape it securely with strong adhesive 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 to See Click Fix. He said to be as detailed as possible as these are very small items that need to be located, so include an address or identifiable items where it is located. Under See Click Fix, select “Spray” from the drop-down menu. A city employee should respond.

Sydney P. Hakes is Burlington’s city reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

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