In a new approach to combat rising heroin and HIV rates, Las Vegas has implemented vending machines of clean needles. The syringe exchange vending machines, a first in the United States, aren’t open to just anyone walking by; they are accessible to clients of Trac-B Exchange, a program run by the Las Vegas Harm Reduction Center.
The center worked in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Health District and the Nevada AIDS Research and Education Society (NARES) to install the new machines, which will be available at three different locations by the end of May. Each client will be limited to two kits a week; each box contains syringes, alcohol wipes, safe sex supplies, and a sharps disposal box.
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