Portland Needle Exchange Program Distributes Over 1 Million Syringes

High return rate credited to city's pilot program paying clients for needle returns

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Portland's needle exchange program distributed over 1 million syringes last year and had almost 90% of them returned, the highest return rate in four years. The city's Public Health Director Bridget Rauscher credits a pilot program that paid clients 10 cents for every needle returned, up to $20 a week, for the high return rate.

Why it matters

Needle exchange programs are an important harm reduction strategy to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C among people who use drugs. However, improperly discarded needles can pose a public health risk, so having a high return rate is crucial for these programs.

The details

The needle exchange program in Portland distributed over 1 million syringes in 2025, with almost 90% of them being returned. This is the highest return rate the program has seen in four years. Bridget Rauscher, Portland's Public Health Director, says the city's pilot program that pays clients 10 cents for every needle returned, up to $20 a week, has been key to the high return rate. Rauscher says many of their clients have unstable housing or are unsheltered, and the program provides them an incentive and safe way to dispose of used needles.

  • In 2025, Portland's needle exchange program distributed over 1 million syringes.

The players

Bridget Rauscher

Portland's Public Health Director.

Portland's Public Health Department

Operates the city's needle exchange program.

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What they’re saying

“We have a high number of clients who have unstable housing or who are unsheltered, and they often don't have a safe place to dispose of syringes, other than bringing them back to us.”

— Bridget Rauscher, Portland Public Health Director (bangordailynews.com)

“As a public health program that's also operating a harm reduction program, it was really important for us to respond to community concerns around syringe litter, and so we were looking to just be creative.”

— Bridget Rauscher, Portland Public Health Director (bangordailynews.com)

What’s next

Rauscher said her office plans to expand return hours and increase the $20 cap on the needle return incentive program later this year.

The takeaway

Portland's innovative needle exchange program, which provides financial incentives for clients to return used syringes, demonstrates how harm reduction strategies can be effectively implemented to address public health concerns around improperly discarded needles.