Burlington’s needle exchange program will undergo a study in the coming months, addressing the growing problem of needles littering the city’s streets along with the growing drug crisis.

The Burlington City Council unanimously approved a resolution at an Oct. 28 meeting giving the Board of Health the go-ahead to conduct a comprehensive study and subsequent report to the City Council by Feb. 18, 2025.

The study will address both the effectiveness of needle exchange programs and look for strategies to mitigate needle litter in Burlington, including recommendations for green needle disposal policies and practices, methods or costs to incentivize safe return.

The resolution was brought to the council by Councilman Evan Litwin, D-Ward 7, who cited his concern for safety among custodial workers, landscapers and trash haulers.

Most of the needles come from Howard Centers Safe Recovery, which aims to reduce the incidence of drug-related harm, such as a fatal drug overdose. They provide clean syringes, along with Narcan and free 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 increasing number they are distributing. He said it was concerning enough to investigate further.

Board of Health President Celia Bird was at the City Council meeting and spoke in support of the study, saying the Board of Health will look into how Burlington’s current syringe exchange could be improved, 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 about 5,000 are returned to Howard Center Safe Recovery on Clarke Street. This leaves 75% of all outgoing syringes unrecognized. For comparison, data from 2018 indicated that of the 651,464 syringes distributed, approximately 63% were returned.

While not 100% accurate data, See Click Fix was 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 of local government leaders.

Burlington received more than 740 See Click Fix reports of a syringe in the first nine months of 2023, three times more than the previous year, according to staff.

What to do when you find needles

If you come across a syringe, The Department of Health has some advice on safe disposal.

If you get stuck by someone else’s needle, be sure to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Then seek medical attention immediately.

If you find a needle, you can remove it yourself with a few simple precautions: Put on heavy gloves and use pliers or tongs to place the needle in a thick plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle. Screw the lid on and seal it tightly with strong tape like duct tape. Write “Do not recycle” on the container and dispose of it in the regular trash.

If you feel insecure or don’t have the right equipment to care for your syringe, Litwin advises you to take a photo and post it on See Click Fix. He said to be as detailed as possible because these are very small items that will need to be located, so include an address or identifiable objects where it is close. On See Click Fix, select “Syringe” from the drop-down menu. A city employee should respond.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington City Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on the Burlington Free Press: Burlington to study low street needle exchange program