Syringe Exchange Program

 

Project S.A.F.E. (Buffalo Syringe Exchange Program) is open Monday through Friday 10am - 3pm and Tuesdays from 10am until 6pm

Project S.A.F.E. is located at 206 South Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14201

Please call (716)847-0315 for more information

Please visit the Project S.A.F.E website at www.doingitsafe.com

 

The Buffalo Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) was started in November of 1992 in response to the high HIV sero-prevalence rate in the Intravenous Drug Using (“IDU”) population. The program was based on the premise that injection drug users would be willing to “exchange” dirty, possibly HIV infected syringes for clean ones if they were free and easily, legally and anonymously provided.  The SEP became a part of Project Reach which was a local HIV prevention program run by Columbus Hospital. Columbus soon merged with Buffalo General which later merged with other area hospitals to become what is known today as Kaleida Health. In 2001 through collaboration with AIDS Community Services, the SEP relocated to ACS’ Central office at 206 South Elmwood Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The program has thrived at 206 South Elmwood over the last 5 years. Recently Kaleida Health has decided that Project Reach is not an appropriate part of its core mission and has negotiated with AIDS Community Services to take over sponsorship of the SEP.

 

In order to participate in the syringe exchange program, an individual needs to register.  This registration consists of an assessment to determine drug use history, type of drugs used, frequency of use, health history and ascertain an understanding of the exchange program.  Once enrolled, an individual is issued an identification card with an anonymous identification number.  This ID card is used for all future exchanges and identifies the individual as an exchange participant if stopped by law enforcement while carrying syringes.  It does not offer any protection if the individual is in possession of illegal drugs.  After registration, the participant is given up to 10 clean syringes and is entitled to exchange as many used syringes for clean as he/she chooses from that time on.  During their visits to the exchange, participants are encouraged to be tested for STD’s, HIV, Hepatitis B+C, offered referrals for health care and encouraged to participate in STD/HIV prevention programs and DETOX programs.

Program staff receive thorough and ongoing training and close supervision.  The security and safety of staff and participants are carefully monitored.  Both the State Health Department and ACS require very rigorous attention to a set of policies and operational procedures that address the risks and benefits of this challenging program.  

Statistically the Buffalo SEP currently has over 5,700 participants enrolled in the program. It is estimated that about 25% of these participants are in prison, have moved, died or quit using drugs. There are about 900 exchanges that currently take place at the SEP per month and about 25,000 syringes exchanged per month. Since the on-set of the program there have been about 3.4 million syringes exchanged. In 1994 a study of the HIV status of 200 participants was conducted and 16% of study participants were found to be HIV positive. In 2001 the same study was conducted and the rate had dropped to 4%. It is estimated that hundreds of HIV transmissions were prevented and countless lives have been saved and/or improved with this program. The challenge remains to get more of the participants tested for HIV. Because many of the participants are there to get clean syringes and want to use their drugs immediately, it is difficult to get them to stay for a 20 minute Rapid HIV test. Adding the 10 minute Rapid HIV test to the ACS menu of testing will help to get more of these participants tested as that is about the amount of time it takes to do an exchange.

Funding sources for these programs include: AIDS Institute, Center for Disease Control, and the New York State Department of Health.

If you would like more information about our program please call (716) 847-0315