Cuyahoga County Board of Health operates a syringe services program under Ohio Revised Code §3707.57, allowing safe needle exchange and disposal as a public health harm-reduction measure across the Cleveland metro area.
Ohio Revised Code §3707.57 authorizes local boards of health to operate bloodborne infectious disease prevention programs, commonly called syringe services or needle exchanges. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CBH) operates such a program serving Cleveland and surrounding municipalities, providing sterile syringes, sharps disposal containers, naloxone, and HIV/HCV testing. Possession of syringes obtained through an authorized program is protected from drug paraphernalia charges. Residents can dispose of used sharps at participating fire stations and pharmacy take-back sites; flushing or curbside trash disposal is prohibited.
Improper sharps disposal in regular trash, recycling, or down toilets can trigger health code citations and creates worker injury risk that may lead to civil liability.
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See how Cleveland's syringe disposal rules stack up against other locations.
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