NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

It all began with activists out on the streets of the Lower East Side handing out syringes. Syringe sharing among injection drug users was driving the HIV epidemic in our community. Drug users were forced to share syringes because in New York, drug paraphernalia laws made obtaining syringes difficult. The theory was that if you provide access to syringes, you could possibly reduce the spread of HIV. This theory has been proven true, not just on the Lower East Side, but everywhere syringe exchange has been put into practice.

Today, our needle exchange program is at the core of our work. As the years went by, we've been able to build and expand the services we provide to the people we serve. Every week, 400 to 700 people come through our door to exchange syringes. Many of these people are in crisis. The lack of stability in peoples' lives brings about chaotic drug use. Ironically, because of their drug use, people don't have many places where they can go for help. But, they can--and do--come to us.

Our needle exchange is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Even on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Labor Day and Memorial Day, we're open. It's important to be consistent, and to let people know that when you say you'll be there, and when you say that they can depend on you, that you mean what you say. Talk is cheap. It's actions that matter.

Between July 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999, we provided needle exchange services to 6,297 people. We did 20,357 transactions. We enrolled 985 new people in our needle exchange program.

The following charts represent the demographics of the people to whom we provided needle exchange services during the year.