Alachua County, FL Public Health Rules: Syringe Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Authorized by
- F.S. § 381.0038
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 2020-20 (9-8-2020)
- Exchange ratio
- one-to-one, needle for needle
- Eligible operators
- hospital, clinic, med school, addiction facility, HIV/AIDS 501(c)(3)
- Screening referral window
- within 72 hours
- Annual report due
- August 1 to County Commission
Summary
Alachua County operates a state-authorized sterile needle exchange under Fla. Stat. §381.0038: an approved health entity swaps one clean needle per used one, must secure exchange sites and safely dispose of returned sharps, and reports program data annually without collecting participants' identities.
Sec. 70.01. Sterile needle exchange program. (a)The County Manager shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Health to establish a program which meets the requirements of F.S. § 381.0038. ... (d)An exchange program must: ... (2)Provide for maximum security of sites where needles and syringes are exchanged and of any equipment used under the program, including, at a minimum, an accounting of the number of needles and syringes in use, the number of needles and syringes in storage, safe disposal of returned needles... (3)Operate a one-to-one exchange, whereby a participant shall receive one sterile needle and syringe unit in exchange for each used one.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
01, adopted by Ord. No. 2020-20 (Sept. 01(a)-(b)). S. Ch. 01(c)(1)-(5)). 01(d)(1)). 01(d)(3)). 01(d)(6)). 01(d)(7) bars collecting any participant's personal identifying information. 01(e).
Violations & Fines
This is a programmatic authorization, not a rule enforced against individual needle users. Compliance runs through the operator's County Commission-approved oversight and accountability system (§70.01(d)(1)) and the county's periodic review of the program's compliance with F.S. §381.0038(4)(b) (§70.01(e)); without that statutory authorization and the section's site-security, one-to-one and reporting requirements, the county could not lawfully operate exchange sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can legally run a needle exchange in Alachua County?
Do participants get a needle for every one they bring back?
Is personal information collected from participants?
What else must the program provide besides needles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
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