Frequently Asked Questions

Syringe Exchange became legal in North Carolina on July 11, 2016 when House Bill 972 was signed into law.

Syringe exchange programs operating in North Carolina are required to provide the following:

• Disposal of used needles and hypodermic syringes

• Needles, hypodermic syringes, and other injection supplies at no cost and in quantities sufficient to ensure that needles, hypodermic syringes, and other injection supplies are not shared or reused

• Reasonable and adequate security of program sites, equipment, and personnel. (Written plans for security shall be provided to the police and sheriff’s offices with jurisdiction in the program location and shall be updated annually)

• Educational materials on all of the following: Overdose prevention; the prevention of HIV, AIDS, and viral hepatitis transmission; drug abuse prevention; treatment for mental illness, including treatment referrals; treatment for substance abuse, including referrals for medication assisted treatment

• Access to naloxone kits or referrals to programs that provide access to naloxone

• For each individual requesting services, personal consultations from a program employee or volunteer concerning mental health or addiction treatment as appropriate

• Programs should also provide written verification to all participants that they have received  syringes and other injection supplies  from the exchange. This can be in the form of a letter or laminated card.

Courtesy of NCHRC https://www.nchrc.org/programs/syringe-services/syringe-exchange-in-nc-faq/

Under H972, no employee, volunteer or participant of the syringe exchange can be charged with possession of syringes or other injection supplies, or with residual amounts of controlled substances in them, obtained from or returned to a syringe exchange. To encourage people to feel comfortable using the exchange and to avoid any uncertainty should participants be stopped by law enforcement, exchange should offer participants a wallet card or other documentation that they are a participant in the exchange that they can show to police if they are stopped.

Courtesy of NCHRC https://www.nchrc.org/programs/syringe-services/syringe-exchange-in-nc-faq/

In Buncombe County:

• The Steady Collective https://thesteadycollective.org/ 

• Western North Carolina AIDS Project https://wncap.org

In Haywood County:

• North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition https://www.nchrc.org/sites/nc-harm-reduction-coalition/ 

You can always call us for assistance in collecting and disposing of used syringes found in the community. We have outreach workers and volunteers available to address community needs around syringe disposal and will assist in collecting and disposing of syringes safely.

If you feel comfortable collecting a used syringe on your own follow these steps..

• Put on gloves

• Place a puncture-proof container like a laundry detergent bottle or sharps container next to the discarded syringe

• Using tongs or gloved hands pick up the syringe from the middle of the barrel and place point down into the container

• Secure the lid and duct tape the top

• Remove gloves and immediately wash hands

You can contact Holler Harm Reduction to collect the containers or dispose of them at the Madison County Dump (remember to tell the staff that you are disposing of sharps).

You can always reach out to Holler Harm Reduction for information and referrals to evidence-based treatment options. We will also provide referrals to individuals seeking Hep C/HIV testing, HIV/Hep C treatment, and who is pregnant and using substances. Please contact us directly for resources or if you are interested in being a resource.