16g Needle

[Bok Wykes]

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Needle exchange is a public health program for people who use drugs by injection (PWID). It is an important component of a comprehensive set of programs designed to reduce the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections among people who inject drugs, their families and communities. Nationally, about a quarter of all people living with AIDS acquired HIV infection directly or indirectly through injection drug use: either from sharing injection equipment, having unprotected sex with an injection drug user, or transmission to children born to injection drug users.

Needle exchange programs provide new, sterile syringes and clean injection equipment in exchange for used, contaminated syringes. They also get drug users into drug treatment and health care. Other services include testing for HIV, hepatitis, TB and other infections to which drug users are prone; treatment readiness counseling and case management services; education about harms associated with drug use and how to minimize them; and safe disposal of contaminated equipment.

Seattle's program began operating in 1989. Currently Public Health operates exchange programs in downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill and South Seattle/South King County. Community-based agencies provide exchange services in other parts of the county.

There are likely 18,000-20,000 PWID living in King County. Needle exchange is the most effective strategy available to prevent HIV in members of this population who are not in drug treatment. It also protects non-injecting family members and sex partners. Without a vaccine or a cure, prevention is the only tool we have to control the spread of HIV. Public Health provides needle exchange for four reasons:

YES. HIV infection among PWID has been shown to increase 6% per year on average in cities that do not have needle exchange. In contrast, HIV declined 6% per year among PWID in cities that have exchange programs.2 An Australian survey found that HIV prevalence declined 19% per year in cites with needle exchange compared to an 8% increase in cities that did not have exchange programs.3 In King County, the rate of HIV infection among PWID has remained low and stable for the past sixteen years, with only 3% of the local PWID population infected.

King County's program has also been successful in getting PWID off the streets and into drug treatment. In the last two years, Public Health needle exchange program placed 739 people in drug treatment.

King County spends $1.2 million/year on the needle exchange program. In contrast, life-time medical cost to treat one person who has HIV is estimated to be $385,200.4 By preventing infections in just three people per year, the needle exchange program pays for itself. By preventing HIV infections in just 1% of IDUs in King County, the program saves over $70 million in HIV-related medical costs. In this light needle exchange provides both a public health and an economic benefit to the residents of Seattle and King County.

The needle exchange is funded by disease prevention funds provided by Washington State, King County and the City of Seattle. Community-based agencies that provide needle exchange in King County may also receive private donations and grants from private foundations.

If the Harm Reduction Institute's needle distribution program application moves forward, the California Department of Public Health will open a public comment period. We will update the community if that happens. Until then, please visit our website for news and updates. You can express your concerns to your state representatives or petition your opposition alongside your neighbors. Use the sample templates below and address them to our state leaders. You may also email us to share your opinion about the proposed needle distribution program.

The Harm Reduction Institute (HRI) filed an application in 2023 with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to provide needle distribution services in Santa Ana. HRI seeks to provide delivery of syringes and pickup of used syringes to private homes, tents, RVs and other non-traditional forms of housing.

CDPH approved HRI's application in August 2023. However, thanks to the City's strenuous opposition to the program, citing public health and safety concerns, the CDPH rescinded its authorization of the program. HRI has again applied to operate the needle program, but it has not yet been approved.

This webpage allows members of the public to learn about the status of needle distribution applications and about how such operations can seriously affect the health, safety and well-being of our youth, neighborhoods and businesses.

From 2016 to 2018, a needle distribution program in Santa Ana resulted in thousands of used needles and syringes being discarded in public areas frequented by children and senior citizens. These thousands of dirty needles affected public areas like the Civic Center, neighborhoods, businesses, our library, and our senior center. This needle program ended thanks to the City's legal and code enforcement efforts.

Choosing the correct Needle Shank:

Round shanks fit in most commercial embroidery machines

Flat-Sided shanks fit in most home and Brother PR multi-needle embroidery machines

Choosing a Needle Tip:

Ballpoint needles are commonly used for knit and lightly woven fabric

Sharp point needles are commonly used for tightly and heavy woven fabric

Universal point are for home machines only

A core needle biopsy uses a long, hollow tube to obtain a sample of tissue. Here, a biopsy of a suspicious breast lump is being done. The sample is sent to a lab for testing and evaluation by doctors, called pathologists. They specialize in analyzing blood and body tissue.

A needle biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of cells from your body for laboratory testing. Common needle biopsy procedures include fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsy. Needle biopsy may be used to take tissue or fluid samples from muscles, bones, and other organs, such as the liver or lungs.

You may also undergo imaging tests, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or an ultrasound, before your needle biopsy. Sometimes these tests are used during the needle biopsy procedure to more accurately locate the area to be biopsied.

Needle biopsy carries a small risk of bleeding and infection at the site where the needle was inserted. Some mild pain can be expected after needle biopsy, though it is usually controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers.

However, you may be asked to stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Jantoven) or aspirin, in the days before your biopsy. Depending on what part of your body will be biopsied, your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink before the procedure.

In certain situations, you may receive intravenous (IV) sedatives or general anesthetics before your needle biopsy. If this is the case, your doctor may ask you to fast the day before your procedure. Tell your doctor about any medications you're taking, as you may need to stop taking certain medications before undergoing anesthesia.

You won't be able to return to work or drive immediately if your needle biopsy is done during IV sedation or general anesthesia. Depending on your duties, you may be able to return to work in 24 hours. Talk to your doctor about when it's safe to return to work.

During a kidney biopsy, a healthcare professional uses a needle to remove a small sample of kidney tissue for lab testing. The biopsy needle is put through the skin to the kidney. The procedure often uses an imaging device, such as an ultrasound transducer, to guide the needle.

You may undergo imaging procedures, such as a CT scan or ultrasound. These allow your doctor to see the target area and plan the best way to proceed. Imaging procedures are sometimes done before your needle biopsy and sometimes performed during the biopsy. What type of imaging you'll undergo, if any, will depend on what part of your body is being biopsied.

Your health care team will clean the area of your body where the needle will be inserted. An anesthetic may be injected into the skin around the area to numb it. In some cases, you'll receive an IV sedative or other medication to relax you during the procedure. Sometimes general anesthesia is used during a needle biopsy. If this is the case, you'll receive medications through a vein in your arm that will relax you and put you in a sleep-like state.

During the needle biopsy, the doctor guides a needle through your skin and into the area of interest. A sample of cells is collected and the needle is withdrawn. This process may be repeated several times until enough cells are collected.

Once your doctor has collected enough cells or tissue for analysis, your needle biopsy procedure is complete. Your biopsy sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results may be available in a few days, though more technical tests may require more time. Ask your doctor how long you can expect to wait.

In most cases, you can leave when your needle biopsy procedure is completed. Whether you can leave right away or whether you'll need to stay for observation depends on what part of your body was biopsied. In some cases, your health care team may want to observe you for a few hours to ensure you won't have complications from your biopsy. If you received an IV sedative or general anesthetic, you'll be taken to a comfortable place to relax while the medication wears off.

Plan to take it easy for the rest of the day. Protect the area where you received the needle biopsy by keeping the bandage in place for as long as instructed. You may feel some mild pain or discomfort in the area, but this should go away in a day or two.

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