What to Do if You Find a Syringe in Public

Do you know what to do if you find a used syringe in public?

These are the steps to take:

1. Do not pick up the syringe. Picking up a needle could lead to dangerous exposure due to an

accidental needle stick or improper disposal, which could put somebody else at risk for an accidental needle stick.

2. Call a local law enforcement agency to pick up the syringe. Dispatch will send a patrol officer to pick up and properly dispose of the syringe. They will ask you to describe where the syringe is to assist the officer in locating it.

Safe handling and disposal of used needles help prevent injuries caused by accidental needle sticks.

Unfortunately, many needles are not disposed of properly and are often left behind in public spaces such as parks, playgrounds, parking lots, or in other public areas.

To help keep our community healthy and safe, please properly discard of your used syringe. Area hospitals will accept used needles, if packaged properly in a puncture proof container. Do not throw the needle into the trash, flush the needle, put the needle in a recycling bin, or attempt to remove/recap/or bend the needle. This can lead to an accidental needle stick, which may cause serious infections.

Are you in need of clean, sterile syringes?

Contact NEXT Distro. NEXT Distro is an online and mail-based harm reduction program that offers free, sterile syringes, sharps containers, safer injection supplies and narcan. If you are in need of supplies, simply complete their online form: https://nextdistro.org/contact. If your matter is urgent, please email [email protected]

Contact St. Lawrence County Partners for Substance Use prevention at 315-386-2325 to learn more about safe syringe disposal, who to contact if you are in need of clean syringes, or additional resources for treatment and recovery services.

Additional resources available to assist those who have substance use disorders with treatment and recovery:

Saint Regis mohawk Police: 518 358 9200

SRMT Mental Health Services 518 358 3145

SRMT Mental Health Crisis Center After Hours Hotline; 518 651 4475

Akwesasne Mohawk Police: 613 575 2340

Seaway Valley Prevention Council/The Valley Recovery Center: 315-713-4861

St. Lawrence County Addiction Services: 315-386-2189

REACHOUT 24-hour Crisis Hotline: 315-265-2422