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Injection Drug Use Outreach

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, injection drug use (IDU) has accounted for a significant number of HIV infections. In Minnesota, injection drug use is an associated risk factor for 16 percent of all people known to be living with HIV. This figure includes people who inject drugs and people who are sexually active with someone who injects drugs. Sharing of syringes and drug injection equipment (like cookers, cottons, tourniquets) makes it easy for HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) to be passed from one person to another.

The Minnesota AIDS Project's injection drug outreach program includes a comprehensive set of services designed to reduce potential harm related to injecting drugs by increasing access to clean syringes, education, and HIV prevention and care services.

Exchanging Syringes

In 1995, the Minnesota AIDS Project started Mainline, a mobile syringe exchange program to educate drug users about the risks of HIV and provide access to clean syringes and works. The program now distributes new, clean syringes and collects used syringes for disposal from injection drug users. It also provides condoms and safer sex supplies along with HIV and HCV risk reduction education.

Visit our syringe exchange page for more information, exchange locations and schedules.

Purchasing Syringes

The Minnesota Syringe Access Initiative indicates that pharmacies may sell up to ten clean syringes to customers without a prescription. Studies consistently show that access to clean, sterile syringes reduces the transmission of HIV and does not increase drug use among individuals who inject drugs.

Find a participating pharmacy that sells up to ten syringes without a prescription.

Disposing of Syringes

Syringe disposal services are available for residents of the Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties who are not enrolled in our Mainline Syringe Exchange Program. Used syringes may be disposed of at Bay West Inc, a household hazardous waste collection site in St. Paul. For more information, contact them directly at 651–291–0456 visit the Ramsey County website for more information on how to use the service.

To learn more about how to protect yourself and for additional information about to Minnesota AIDS Project services designed for injection drug users, contact:

The Minnesota AIDS Project's syringe exchange program collects used syringes from clients enrolled in the program and stores them in industry approved bio–hazard containers until they are collected by an authorized sharps disposal company.

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SYRINGE DISPOSAL

How to dispose of your used syringes.

HIV EDUCATION

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