Safe Syringe Program
Safe Syringe Program
Through the Safe Syringe Program (SSP), anyone may visit the Department of Public Health pharmacy or mobile-site locations throughout the community to receive the following supplies and services for free:
- Sterile (unused) syringes
- Other safer drug use equipment like tourniquets, cookers, cottons, and more
- Personal hygiene supplies
- Safe disposal of used syringes
- Naloxone kits to reverse an opioid overdose
- Fentanyl and xylazine drug testing strips
- Testing for bloodborne infections like HIV and viral hepatitis
- Referrals to mental health, substance use, and social services
Sharing syringes increases the risk of transmission of bloodborne infections like HIV, hepatitis b, and hepatitis c. Reusing syringes increases risk of skin and soft tissue infections, which can lead to more serious infections of the blood and heart valves.
These services and supplies available at the SSP are evidence-based interventions that reduce injury, disease, and death associated with drug use. All SSP services are delivered confidentially.
To learn more about this program or other pharmacy services, call 919-560-7632.
The SSP is located at:
Durham County Human Services
414 East Main St.
Durham NC 27701
1st floor, Lobby 3 (Pharmacy)
Hours:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 am – 12 pm
Wednesdays and Fridays, 1 – 4 pm
For mobile SSP services, text (919)-998-8152.
Fentanyl and Xylazine Testing Strips
Fentanyl is a very powerful synthetic opioid that is much stronger than other opioids like morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. Fentanyl is the cause of the majority of overdose deaths, and is being cut into the supply of many street drugs like heroin, pressed pills, methamphetamines, crack, cocaine, and more.
Xylazine, also called "tranq," is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer that is used to sedate animals; it has no approved use in humans. Xylazine is also being cut into the drug supply and exposure to it can be life threatening, especially when combined with opioids like fentanyl. It can also cause painful wounds that are difficult to heal, are easily infected, and can cause tissue death. This is most commonly a risk associated with injection drug use, but wounds can appear anywhere on the body, not just at the site of injection.
Because of this tainted drug supply, ANY drugs that do not come directly from a pharmacist should be tested for fentanyl and xylazine before they are consumed.
Fentanyl and xylazine test strips are available for free at the SSP.
Overdose Prevention
Overdoses occur when a toxic amount of a substance, or combination of substances overwhelms the body. Overdoses have different symptoms depending on the substance(s) involved. Opioid overdoses make up the majority of overdose deaths; these occur when too many opioids are present in the body which causes the person to stop breathing. Opioid overdose deaths occur when a person goes too long without breathing because their vital organs stop functioning.
Overdose risk is higher if:
- You have a low tolerance due to:
- Not using this drug before
- Not using for a while for any reason (hospitalization, incarceration, etc.)
- There are unknown substances in your drugs like fentanyl or xylazine
- Fentanyl is a very powerful opioid and is the cause of most overdose deaths
- Xylazine is a tranquilizer that can cause painful wounds and loss of consciousness
- BOTH are being cut into the supply of all kinds of drugs like heroin, pressed pills, amphetamines, cocaine, crack, etc.
- You mix different drugs like opioids with benzos (Xanax, Valium, etc.) or alcohol, or mix different opioids like fentanyl and heroin
There are several ways people can reduce risk of overdose when using drugs:
- Never use drugs alone, and always have naloxone on hand
- Have a friend with you or call the Never Use Alone Overdose Prevention Line at 877-696-1996
- Make sure everyone has naloxone and knows where it is and how to use it
- Only use one substance at a time; if mixing, use less of both
- Go slow; use a small amount first
- Test your drugs before you use them!
- Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips can tell you if either are present in your drugs
Naloxone
Naloxone is a safe and effective over-the-counter medication that saves lives by reversing opioid overdose. Naloxone comes in two forms: injectable and nasal. Nasal naloxone is available for FREE through the Durham County Department of Public Health at the following locations:
- Vending Machine #1: Durham County Health and Human Services Building (414 E. Main St. Durham, NC 27701 MAIN LOBBY, M-F, 8AM-5PM)
- Vending Machine #2: Durham County Detention Center (219 S. Mangum St. Durham, NC 27701 MAIN LOBBY, 24/7)
- Durham County Dept of Public Health Safe Syringe Program
Any community-based organizations interested in becoming a naloxone distribution partner can email mculver@dconc.gov for more information.
Any community-based organization, business, or special interest group interested in receiving a free training on overdose prevention, safer drug use practices, etc. can fill out the Harm Reduction Training Request Form.
You Have the Power to Save Lives
A coalition of Black community leaders, government officials, and health experts across seven cities is launching a new campaign – You Have the Power to Save Lives – to combat disproportionally high overdose deaths in Black communities. Supported by public health group Vital Strategies, the campaign has mobilized leaders across seven U.S. cities - Louisville, Kentucky; Durham, North Carolina; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Newark, New Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Detroit, Michigan; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Durham County Department of Public Health has partnered with Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) on this campaign to prevent overdose in the Black community. Learn more from TRY Executive Director, Dr. Wanda Boone, about raising awareness and increasing access to the lifesaving medication naloxone in Black communities.
Click here for a video with more information about the campaign!
One spray can save a life. Pick up free naloxone at a Durham County vending machine or the pharmacy at the Durham County Department of Public Health.
North Carolina’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Laws
North Carolina’s Good Samaritan Law provides people with limited immunity for certain drug offenses if:
- They seek medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose by contacting the 911 system, a law enforcement officer, or emergency medical services personnel.
- They believe they are the first person to seek medical assistance for the overdose victim.
- They provide their name to the 911 system or to a first responder upon arrival.
- Law enforcement officers were not already at the location executing an arrest warrant, search warrant, or other lawful search.
- Any evidence for prosecution of a drug-related offense obtained by a law enforcement authorities was obtained because they sought medical assistance for a drug-related overdose.
North Carolina’s Naloxone Access Law protects people who give naloxone to someone they believe, in good faith, is experiencing a drug overdose. If they think the person is experiencing an overdose and they use reasonable care to give the naloxone, they are protected from a lawsuit for administering naloxone. Naloxone is an over-the-counter medication that can easily be administered by laypersons.
North Carolina’s SSP Law
Syringe service programs became legal in North Carolina in 2016; G.S. 90‑113.27 allows authorized SSPs to provide evidence-based interventions to reduce negative health outcomes associated with drug use and other high‑risk behaviors.
The law also provides legal protection to SSP employees, volunteers, and participants; they cannot be charged with possession of syringes or other injection supplies, including those with residual amounts of controlled substances present, if obtained or returned to a SSP. SSP employees, volunteers and participants must provide written verification (Durham County SSP provides participant identification cards for this purpose) to be granted limited immunity.
For Additional Information
To learn more about Durham County’s harm reduction programs, contact Morgan at mculver@dconc.gov or call 919-560-8215.