Needle Exchange

[jamuk87]

Hi folks, just having a little problem and I was wondering if someone could give me some suggestions or ideas. Basically, I'm the pharmacist in quite a deprived area in which we do A LOT of needle exchanges. The problem I have is that a lot of the people will discard their filled disposable bin in the street, in peoples gardens, and well, just anywhere really.

I've had a lot of people complaining to me, and quite rightly too. But there isn't a great deal I can do to stop them not disposing of their needles properly. I suggested that we use a marker to write the users initials and date of birth on the bin so that it's invisible except when under a UV light. So the bins that have been found on the street can be traced back to a person. But apparently this breaches some sort of confidentiality nonsense.

So i'm trying to think of an idea whereby I can reduce the number of bins being chucked around the street or in gardens but drawing up a blank. Any ideas guys? Thanks.

[johnep]

Needle exchange is supposed to be just that. They bring in filled cinbin, you provided them with a pack. I used to remind and gently chide those that did not. Full of excuses. Major one which was true, was that the local night shelter compelled them to place all used syringes in their own cinbin.
johnep

[jamuk87]

Yup, in theory that's how it should work. However for some reason, it was agreed (before I came along) that if no bin is returned then a maximum of 3 needles can only be given out. I've heard tons of excuses too. The best one being that they'd already given me the bin back but I must have 'forgot'.

It's just not so nice walking around the street to find bins filled with used needles, or in some cases, just the needles laying around.

[admin]

I used to run a very busy needle exchange pharmacy and I got over 95% of the needles given out back. The answer to me is simple - keep dropping how many you give them. When people were new they got ten. If they returned expty handed they got five, and so on until they were coming in for one at a time. I wasn't offensive to anyone, just assertive and calm. I told them this was a service for them that might save their life one day, by stopping them contracting HIV etc. I told them we needed to look after this service and that meant I had to show the powers that be that I was getting back as many needles as I gave out. I had less then ten people who didn't bring any back out of hundreds. Once they get into the habit of bringing them back they continue to do so. If there were any lying in the street I used to go out and get rid of them myself.