A Syringe Service Program

is a community-based public health program for people who use drugs by injection. The program provides comprehensive harm reduction services such as providing participants with sterile syringes and clean injection equipment.

Syringe service programs help to ensure that syringes and needles are disposed of safely therefore reducing the number of discarded syringes in our playgrounds, parks, and community gathering spaces.

Why Have A Syringe Service Program?

Communities with syringe service programs have a reduction in the number of improperly discarded used syringes, decreased transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other blood borne diseases. Preventing transmission of blood borne diseases in people who inject drugs also helps to prevent transmission to pregnant women and newborn children.

Because staff and volunteers develop meaningful relationships with participants they connect them with evidence-based practice resources such as: counseling, treatment, housing, food assistance, blood borne disease testing, education and harms associated with drug use and how to minimize them.

Our goals are to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for anyone participating in the program, and to develop meaningful relationships with our participants in hopes of nurturing the need to recover.

What We offer

• Syringes
• Safer injection supplies
• Biohazard containers / Sharps containers
• HIV/HCV testing & referrals for care
• Naloxone by referral
• Safer injection education
• Referrals for drug treatment, medical care, and community resources per request
• Community syringe disposal

Community Syringe Disposal Locations

Disposal kiosks are available to everyone. You may deposit syringes, diabetic needles & supplies and other sharps at the following locations:

Click to: View all syringe disposal locations on a map

• Birdtown Gym – Birdtown Rd.
• Wolftown Gym – Long Branch
• Painttown Gym – Old Gap Rd.
• Big Cove Community Club Building – Big Cove Rd.
• EMS Parking Lot – Acquoni Rd.
• Oconaluftee Islands Parking Lot – Tsali Blvd.
• Cherokee Welcome Center Parking Log – Tsali Blvd.
• Downtown Cherokee Visitor’s Kiosk – Tsalagi Rd.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Cherokee Visitor’s Kiosk – Tsali Blvd.
• Food Lion Parking Lot – Cherokee Crossing
• Cherokee Justice Center – Seven Clans Lane
• Tribal Food Distribution Program Parking Lot – Old Mission Rd.
• Old River Road Curve – Clean Store Rd.
• Big Cove Fishing Ponds
• Snowbird Clinic – Robbinsville
• J.W. Senior Center – Cherokee County