NEEDLE EXCHANGE ANYONE???

[strikks]

How many of you got a needle exchange program near you and do you use it?

I have one 45minutes away and i go as much as i can.It is weekly and usually they will give you 60,and you have 3 sizes to choose from,1 cc,1/2 cc and i dunno what the other is cuz i don't get any of those.Lately though,they have been short on donations so when they do that they only give 30.I made my old lady come too today so i got 60 anyway(there under budget this week again).

but i like to have a new one every time if possible ya digg??they also give alcohol pads,cookers,cottens,condoms and ties.

It is cool.they also give us a card that says we are a client in case we get pulled over coming home.they will take the pins and not charge you with possesing them.(city cops only) and when they call to verify you got them there,if you call them after the traffic stop,they will give you more needles,

great place for finding new friends!!! lol (if ya know what i mean!!)

[Ron-Doe]

we are limited to 15 rigs so i have to go often, 60 i wish

[bindegal]

We have a nice one to, is open 24/7 and there is no limit to how mush you can take. We can get a little "bag" with a 2ml syringe, a lose needle, a little bottle with 1.5ml water -some times 4ml- a 20ml plastic goblet, a alcohol swap, and some cotton. Or loos pick: 2ml, 5ml, 10ml and 20ml syringe. 4-5 dif needles, alcohol swabs, citric acid, condoms and as something new sterile one times spoons with a little filter, see: http://forum.opiophile.org/showthread.php?t=15313

[goagirl23]

There's one in my immediate area 3 days a week and they're awesome. You can get up to 500 whether your returning any or not. They have various sizes..in fact, the guy special orders the tiny 31 gage for me! You can get sharps containers, alcohol pads, cottons, little tubes of sterile water, rubber ties, the cards so you can legally carry needles on you, harm reduction books, condoms, etc. etc. sometimes there's even food. They also have a person for abcess care once a week! There are a few other exchanges run by different people in the area but none of them are as cool as these guys, I feel very fortunate to have them.

[underide]

The one i normally go to is in the inner city and it's probably the biggest one we have. It's open Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm.
There's also a drop-in center right next door where you can get some food and cloths for free. Both buildings were donated for the cause by the Franciscan Monks about 15 years ago, and they have a church right next to the exchange. Rather nice of them to do so.

Obviously the monks don't work there themselves though. The guy who runs the whole place is actually a retired doctor and they have a number of volunteer nurses working there too.
They usually have a package ready for you which includes swabs, sterile water, citric acid and filters, before you choose your spikes. You can take either 1ml diabetic ultrafines and/or 2.5ml barrels. Or both.
Needles to choose from are 26g, 25g, 23g and 22g. I don't know who would ever need the 22g - that needle can leave a serious hole in you. Even for the femoral a 23g will suffice.
The microfines are 31g and they have a needle fixed to the 1ml barrel.

They also give you referrals to methadone clinics and such.
And they offer you acupuncture also:rolleyes:.
I think some people actually go for acupuncture too. I can't help but feel that they are implying that your 'needle fixation' can be helped with acupuncture.

There's LOTS of dealing right outside of the exchange (sometimes even inside). The cops don't really do anything either, but i think they have specific orders not to do anything there. Every once in a while they would pick up a dealer or two, but mostly they stay away.
It only makes sense though - if they keep hassling the people that go to the exchange, people would think twice before going there at all, which would defeat the purpose of having a needle exchange in the first place.

[strikks]

cool!! some of these sound great!!! i am gonna donate some money to ours.we also have a doctor on site to check for abcesses or whatever or if you have questions. ours like i said is only weekly though that would be awesome if it was open all week or 3 times a week like you guys said your places are.

cool thread i think it is interesting to know that there are alot more places to help with harm reduction.


thanx for voting and responding people.

peace,
strikks

[TOOL]

I need new pinz bad... yeah I am quitting pinz but they are still nice to have.... never know when the dog might need a shot :D

[ein0606]

i actually voted for 2. i voted no we dont have one ut wish we did and for i buy them privately.....i live a bout 30 mins from svannah and i dont think there is oine there, and an hour and a half from chaelston so not worth the drive. but south carolina law lets you buy them in the pharm w/o script to help prevent diseases which is awesome. but i would really like to have a needle exchange to give out some of the other things to help people (harm reduction) besides just pins that the pharm gives.....

[rcb]

I buy them at pharmacies.. I'm sure theres an exchange within a reasonable distance of me.. but i've never gone.. might consider it though (to make friends :D )

[jdub]

We have them but I just get them privately at Walgreens. Its a block from my apt and the exchange is half-way across town.

[jimmyfingers]

can you really buy them in south carolina w/o a prescription??

[ein0606]

can you really buy them in south carolina w/o a prescription??


yep. never been turned down, i even have been able to buy em in savannah across the border even tho i hear you cant in georgia, probably cause i showed the SC id

[Chicago]

In the Chi we have it 5 days a week on the west side & south side, example I go out west it be in a diff place 3 times a week & the other 2 is in the same place it will be a mobile or rv where you get 2 rigs for each one you turn in, then you get as many tins as you can, water, bleech, cottons & narcan amps.

You get a needle exchange card which shows that you participate in the needle exchange program & that if you ever got busted w/rigs they will provide you w/a attorney, but will this card if you carry it w/you when you got rigs, you got nothing to worry about.

[SpecialGuy69]

hey guys, something to think about:

If you appreciate needle exchange programs, then help them out. I think its safe to say we all support what they are doing, even non IV users like me.

If you have already donated to the opy, give them some cash. If your broke, give them some of your time. The one in DC needs help putting together the packages that they hand out, its 2 weekday nights a month from 6pm-8pm. You have to work there for a while before they let you work at the actual exchange on the street, I think.


Other things most exchanges need:
-bandaids/bandages
-decent clothes (help a junky get a job by looking his/her best!)
-toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste/brushes, shaving supplies, lotion, chapstick, etc- new, travel size is best)
-bottled water, hot chocolate, coffee, tea

Added benefit- I'm SURE that if you volunteer your time at the exchange, they will give you all the rigs you want, plus you'll meet "like-minded" people! NO FUCKING LOSE SITUATION!!!

HELP THEM OUT- how else can you save multiple lives and help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS while making friends at the same time?

I'm going to help the DC exchange sort packages this month - if any DC opiophiles want to come with, let me know and I'll post the details! I'll even drive!

--funny side note: on the dc needle exchange website, they actually specify unused bandaids- like anyone would donate a used bandaid!!!

[underide]

--funny side note: on the dc needle exchange website, they actually specify unused bandaids- like anyone would donate a used bandaid!!!

You'd be surprised..:)

[strikks]

i have some extra cash this month so after i donate to this wonderful web site then i think i am gonna send my local exchange a 50 .We don't even have to turn any old rigs in, but they encourage us to dispose of properly or bring them in.

but in my state, if i would get caught hauling 90 used rigs 45 minutes away to give them to those guys to dispose of,i would do time!!! It is a fuckin shame.Our ID cards are not powerful enough to save us from state troopers,or any other juristiction along the way.I guess they would rather tthem throw them out the car window!!!

I was walking,a couple times, i remember seeing dirty ass rigs on the street and on a highway!!! It's a shame.

If i can't dispose of properly,like at the hospital, i put them in a used plastic pop bottle or water bottle and throw them in a public trash can with a lid so kids can't get in real easy.

[motts]

I live in Columbus, OH. There is not one here I know of, and I believe the one in Cleveland has been shut down :(

columbus and cleveland, nothing comes up in google search. the "xchange point" might still be poppin off in cleveland i heard about it from some junkie, it was closed , who knows.

fuck ohio's non friendly policies towards safe injection practices and the possible spread of HIV and Hep C., if I see her any presidential candidate I will ask for a fucking needle change in Ohio yo!

[20Dollarholla]

We really dont need one in Ohio, since you can go to the local pharmacy and get your rigs, but it would be nice to have one for the abcess care and the likes. Plus some places are dicks about selling rigs, I really dont know the what the state law is, but I rarely have trouble buying them. Maybe three times in seven years have I been turned down, and once I know it was because I took a lady to fill her Roxi script and followed her in and asked for rigs.

If I am hassled I say I am giving puppies shots or I am perscribed humilin, like I said not too many places straight up deny you, but it has happened on occassion.

If we did have one I think they would have to make me leave, as it is always a good time trading war stories with fellow users.

I live in Columbus, OH. There is not one here I know of, and I believe the one in Cleveland has been shut down :(

columbus and cleveland, nothing comes up in google search. the "xchange point" might still be poppin off in cleveland i heard about it from some junkie, it was closed , who knows.

fuck ohio's non friendly policies towards safe injection practices and the possible spread of HIV and Hep C., if I see her any presidential candidate I will ask for a fucking needle change in Ohio yo!

[Princess]

*snip*
I'm going to help the DC exchange sort packages this month - [B]if any DC opiophiles want to come with, let me know and I'll post the details! I'll even drive!


Hey, I'd love to go with you to help. Can you swing by and pick me up?
;)

[motts]

Regardless I know how the laws are here man, I live here.

It would just be nice to have a needle exchange where one would feel welcomed and could get free stuff, and also meet other users. It just sucks Ohio's methadone and needle exchange programs blow.

[antifox]

How many of you can get Naltrexone kits from the needle exchange? I am thinking about calling them up to get some and bringing a couple people with me so I can get four or five kits.

The needle exchange close to me right now is awesome. It's in San Francisco and everyone is great. The dealers that hang out around the place are really low key and they know this to get the attention away so it's easy as fuck to score. The other needle exchange that I go to about an hour south in Santa Cruz (when I go down to work on phd vs md in san francisco) is also really awesome, but for some reason it's way more seedy. They give out more needles because the county puts money down on clean needles for the exchange and they also pay a county tax to keep it going every year, because it's really hard for exchanges to depend on donations only. It's only like $8.50 per person but it allows me to get 90 needles whenever I go and the San Francisco one gives out 15-30 depending on how busy they are.

If I ever started rigging my meds or got back on H then I would always go there to fix. Something about the saftey and the enviornment lets me feel like I can enjoy my high way more.

[The_Highwayman]

How many of you can get Naltrexone kits from the needle exchange? I am thinking about calling them up to get some and bringing a couple people with me so I can get four or five kits.

The needle exchange close to me right now is awesome. It's in San Francisco and everyone is great. The dealers that hang out around the place are really low key and they know this to get the attention away so it's easy as fuck to score. The other needle exchange that I go to about an hour south in Santa Cruz (when I go down to work on phd vs md in san francisco) is also really awesome, but for some reason it's way more seedy. They give out more needles because the county puts money down on clean needles for the exchange and they also pay a county tax to keep it going every year, because it's really hard for exchanges to depend on donations only. It's only like $8.50 per person but it allows me to get 90 needles whenever I go and the San Francisco one gives out 15-30 depending on how busy they are.

If I ever started rigging my meds or got back on H then I would always go there to fix. Something about the saftey and the enviornment lets me feel like I can enjoy my high way more.


Do they have a safe secure place that you can actually fix there??

[mikey5string]

im sure there are some around me.

ive only got them once. at walgreens and i had to charm the pharmacy girl into giving them to me for my diabetic girlfriend from new hampshire.

id like to get some more, maybe only another 10 pack. i just dont want to go through the song and dance again.

[SHELLEY]

i bought my own needles
fuck govt handouts

[antifox]

Do they have a safe secure place that you can actually fix there??


Not when I checked it out a LONG time ago, but things are changing so it's very possible. They have nurses on staff though incase you need help.

Keep in mind I haven't been for years.

[nick]

Do they have a safe secure place that you can actually fix there??

What you're talking about,basically,is a safe injecting facility and as far as I know there are none in the U.S. The ground work for such a facility was started in SF,but appears to have come to nothing-for now.
I suspect anyone attempting to establish a facility would be arrested and prosecuted,which is what we were told would happen in England.

However,their might be underground safe injecting facilities operating covertly.If anyone has knowledge of such a facility,I REALLY suggest you don't discuss it here or anywhere else on line.

[Mallinckrodt]

i bought my own needles
fuck govt handouts


Fuck you.

[The_Highwayman]

There is a needle exchange by me, and when it opened there was an article in the newspaprer about it and their goals and such, I have never been nor know anyone who goes..there are a ton of online places that sell all types of rigs at low prices...

[FlapJack]

It's funny this thread got bumped today because me and my girlfriend just became members this afternoon. The people there were incredibly helpful. They gave us tips for injecting safer gave us 50 free syringes a tourniquet because I told her I'd been using a cell phone charger, cookers, cottons, water, everything we needed. The most important thing she gave us was narcan. She gave us four bottles total, two for each of us and I couldn't thank her enough. I only use in my home and only when I'm with the girlfriend so this is so important to us. If you haven't read my other thread about my past few weeks I've had three veryt close calls in a short amount of time and this narcan I feel will be saving a life sometime soon, though I hope it's never nessesary.

[SHELLEY]

hey the cellphone chargers work real good
especially the ones that look like this, cause they'll bring out even finger veins:

[nick]

hey the cellphone chargers work real good
especially the ones that look like this, cause they'll bring out even finger veins:

I hope you took the time to read the post above yours,Shelley.

[junkstrobe]

the needle exchange i used to use all the time was in berkeley (east san francisco bay area). it's run by very helpful people and the equipment they provide is top notch - you can select your brand preference even and if they have it they'll give you up to 500 at a time with no drop off. they are hardcore serious about harm reduction and are willing to answer questions of any sort.

the exchange also goes to different neighborhoods on different days, so it's pretty effective at getting people to come. unfortunately they only operate three days a week but its still a great program.

i've never been to the santa cruz exchange but i'll be going there tonight. im curious to see what this is like, i haven't been in santa cruz in about a decade...

[SHELLEY]

I hope you took the time to read the post above yours,Shelley.

yes, i understand what a needle exchange is

[bigNasty]

yep. never been turned down, i even have been able to buy em in savannah across the border even tho i hear you cant in georgia, probably cause i showed the SC id
I feel lucky that I can just walk in any pharmacy in MS and buy rigs without showing ID or any of that shit. But I hear you can't get rigs in arkansas like that, but dilaudid's are alot more readily available and people wash their rigs out with bleach then re-use and that people sell new ones for a few bucks a piece. I need to take a trip and trade a bag of ten new 30's or 31's for each 4mg dilly. That'd be awesome to buy a case of pins for $20 and come back with 10+ dillies

[bigNasty]

hey the cellphone chargers work real good
especially the ones that look like this, cause they'll bring out even finger veins:
Hell yeah! My friends always get in my car and ask me why my cell phone chargers have teeth marks on them

[euphoricontin17]

man, you guys are so lucky. I would absolutely love to have a needle exchange by me. Or even one at all. I don't think you can even buy them w/o prescription in PA. Anyone know? I may be wrong. Sadly, i've only ever owned 3 pins in my life and they cost me 5 bucks each off of a homeless grandmother. Guess it's good in a way so I don't shoot to often.

[nick]

man, you guys are so lucky. I would absolutely love to have a needle exchange by me. Or even one at all. I don't think you can even buy them w/o prescription in PA. Anyone know? I may be wrong. Sadly, i've only ever owned 3 pins in my life and they cost me 5 bucks each off of a homeless grandmother. Guess it's good in a way so I don't shoot to often.

There are at least 2 works exchange in PA. One in Pittsburgh and one in Philadelphia.Maybe ring the nearest and see if there's one closer.

The NX is Pittsburgh is prevention point, call (412) 247-3404 and the NX in Philly is (215)634-5272(ext121)

[Ickyuck]

Yes, Nick, good advices. I know the place in Philly give you 10 for ever 1 you bring in.

[blackdog]

I think they got a harm reduction and have professional type medical peeps do injections 4 yah. in Holland by that needle park where the cops turn a blind eye ( what doe that mean "turn a blind eye" exactly) to all the drug activity that goe on. I seen it on 60 minutes CBS i think.......:rolleyes:

[bodytec]

The one i normally go to is in the inner city and it's probably the biggest one we have. It's open Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm.
There's also a drop-in center right next door where you can get some food and cloths for free. Both buildings were donated for the cause by the Franciscan Monks about 15 years ago, and they have a church right next to the exchange. Rather nice of them to do so.

Obviously the monks don't work there themselves though. The guy who runs the whole place is actually a retired doctor and they have a number of volunteer nurses working there too.
They usually have a package ready for you which includes swabs, sterile water, citric acid and filters, before you choose your spikes. You can take either 1ml diabetic ultrafines and/or 2.5ml barrels. Or both.
Needles to choose from are 26g, 25g, 23g and 22g. I don't know who would ever need the 22g - that needle can leave a serious hole in you. Even for the femoral a 23g will suffice.
The microfines are 31g and they have a needle fixed to the 1ml barrel.

They also give you referrals to methadone clinics and such.
And they offer you acupuncture also:rolleyes:.
I think some people actually go for acupuncture too. I can't help but feel that they are implying that your 'needle fixation' can be helped with acupuncture.

There's LOTS of dealing right outside of the exchange (sometimes even inside). The cops don't really do anything either, but i think they have specific orders not to do anything there. Every once in a while they would pick up a dealer or two, but mostly they stay away.
It only makes sense though - if they keep hassling the people that go to the exchange, people would think twice before going there at all, which would defeat the purpose of having a needle exchange in the first place.


sounds like a perfect little world.

[bodytec]

I think they got a harm reduction and have professional type medical peeps do injections 4 yah. in Holland by that needle park where the cops turn a blind eye ( what doe that mean "turn a blind eye" exactly) to all the drug activity that goe on. I seen it on 60 minutes CBS i think.......:rolleyes:

hahaha-that's right...if it's an already BLIND eye,why would they have to turn it?:D:D:D:o

[bodytec]

Fuck you.

Whad-you-say,boy?

[underide]

sounds like a perfect little world.

hmm....you'd think that, wouldn't you?

[Duckfeet]

Most methadone clinics seem to have either a post on the bulletin board, or know if/where there is needle xchange...we're kind of protective of the one down here, and try to discourage dealing and shit out front...even if cops don't do anything, it makes citizens crazy, and want to close them down...but a junky will do it anyway, I know...I've gone to'em for the same reason I've hit mdone clinics in strange towns, so I can't say shit...I appreciate them being there...

[OverDriven]

man, you guys are so lucky. I would absolutely love to have a needle exchange by me. Or even one at all. I don't think you can even buy them w/o prescription in PA. Anyone know? I may be wrong. Sadly, i've only ever owned 3 pins in my life and they cost me 5 bucks each off of a homeless grandmother. Guess it's good in a way so I don't shoot to often.

You can order pins online to any state.

[rosebud]

Most methadone clinics seem to have either a post on the bulletin board, or know if/where there is needle xchange...we're kind of protective of the one down here, and try to discourage dealing and shit out front...even if cops don't do anything, it makes citizens crazy, and want to close them down...but a junky will do it anyway, I know...I've gone to'em for the same reason I've hit mdone clinics in strange towns, so I can't say shit...I appreciate them being there...

We have 1 but it's closing down for reasons DF said. It's in a middle class neighborhood and dealers/users were not low key at all. People look out their front windows and see shit going down and find dirty works everywhere. It's dejected the folks who worked so hard to get the political, neighborhood and financial support to open it. It's the last 1 around. Others closed for similar reasons. People will have to drive 45 minutes to the nearest 1 (in a really nasty area).

Such a bummer. SS agencies banded together 2 years ago,even getting support from conservatives when we shared the harm reduction stats. They warily agreed to a pilot and the county contributed 200k. NE supplied all kinds of items and other services in a warm, clean environment. About 6 months into it, the dealing/hustling started getting out of control and bang-that was it. Even some liberals in neighborhood got behind closing them. They have little kids and all that.

The NE folks talked to the clients, asking them to chill or they would fuck it up and get NE booted. They did, but too late. The neighbors were hell bent on closing it. Anything suspect and "hello 911?"They just wanted it gone. At first the neighbors were really cool with it. The NE had special hearings and the meetings were packed, but NE advocates did a great job winning people over. They had a big grand opening with neighbors, clients, agency folks and politicians all schmoozing! But once the dealing/using started getting blatant-that was it. :confused:

Now they're trying to make it a mobile NE with vans they will drive to different spots (not so nice or clean). Getting local towns to agree to it is tough sledding though because of what happened. Not sure what the solution is to make it work?

[Michael]

I use the needle exchange in my town.

I cannot fathom how I would get by without it, I've reused a needle once and it was fucking horrible lol.

[antifox]

The area that I am in now had a similar issue rosebud. It was fixed by having two mobile vans that "travel"around which means they change sites every week and have three spots. Kind of bizzare, but it fixes the neighborhood issue which is almost impossible to talk out once people get their opinions in a particular place.

[Duckfeet]

Yeah, to be honest, junkies rarely give a shit what people think...We have mobile vans too, and they are damend good, altruistic people, and try really hard, but as san diego trys to pull itself up into yuppieland, there are less and less seedy neighborhoods...but the needle van usually finds a spot and time, near old thrift stores, or in front of soup kitchens...but a lot of the crap we bring on our own heads, just like at methadone clinics that get pulled down...I'm kind of w/Shelley on this one: I don't *need* freebies, and junkies could muster up the cost of a pack of syringes...I just wish they'd quit making the fuckers illegal, so I *have* to go to free needle xchange.

I've been off the spike a while now, but needle xchanges were a good part of survival out here...but I remember up in even the South Dakota drugstores, which were humane enough you could just pick up a box on your way out, no need to ask pharmacist, nothing...I don't know if that is still the case or not, been over ten years..

[Leave it ta Beaver]

The one down my way here in B-more has one in a mobile van type deal an move's throughout the city( they have a card they give ya telling ya where their @ an times and days!
I've only used 'em once but they hook ya up w/ rigs,filter's,cookers,'lil bottle of water & bleach just incase ya decide ta share a rig! Also they give ya alcohol packs, rubber tie off thingy's and for every 2 needles that are'nt from them they'll give ya 1(there's are grey top, so they know theirs from other's)
Also they can give ya a card allowing ya to carry the rig's, wich only really works in da city, county copper's are a whole other breed! And don't think it's legal to have tool's in da county unless your diabetic, wich is bullcrap! Anyways that's how it worke year's ago when I went thru them, but would imagine it's pretty much da same!!
Take care to all!:D