Can you buy injection needles at a pharmacy? This article will discuss the legality of non-prescription syringe sales in Arizona, as well as the barriers to doing so. Let’s begin by defining what an injection syringe is. What is its purpose? And how do you determine whether a particular syringe is suitable for the use you need it for?

Buying syringes at a pharmacy

It is easy to buy syringes at pharmacies, but are they safe to use? The answer to that question may surprise you. According to a study by UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy, pharmacists who sell injection needles have inconsistent policies, which may make it difficult to determine which ones are safe to use. While pharmacists are aware of the risks associated with using syringes, they also want to protect the public from HCV and HIV transmission.

According to a survey, about half of pharmacies asked for a prescription and 31 percent asked if the customer had diabetes. Another 10 percent did not carry the type or size of syringes that the pharmacist requested. Eight percent of pharmacists did not even ask the customer for a reason for purchasing. So, despite the many benefits of an unrestricted syringe policy, many pharmacists are still reluctant to sell needles to the public.

Despite these benefits, a recent study conducted in Arizona found that pharmacists are not always a safe place to purchase syringes. In fact, nearly half of the participants said they had been refused a syringe at a pharmacy. The study’s findings suggest that pharmacists are preventing safe access to syringes for people who use needles. And that’s not all.

Legality of non-prescription syringe sales in Arizona

A recent bill to legalize non-prescription injection needle sales in Arizona passed the House but failed to get approved by the Senate. This means the bill has no chance of making it to the governor’s desk. In spite of the positive effects of the legislation, some opposing groups say Arizona should go a step further. One advocate is the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation. They operate a syringe exchange program, which helps those with HIV.

In 2011, a group called Shot in the Dark began operating in Arizona in an attempt to address the problem of needle sharing. The group has operated under a legal gray area since 2011 and tallied more than five thousand participant contacts in 2017. The organization distributed more than 1.5 million syringes last year. While the legislation allows for these programs, it is still illegal to sell syringes without a prescription.

Though syringes are used for medical purposes, it is easy to assume they are being sold illegally. Consequently, law enforcement officers may assume you are buying them illegally. In Arizona, however, there are no specific laws on the sale of syringes. However, if you have a prescription, you are not breaking any laws. The legality of non-prescription injection needle sales in Arizona is still up in the air.

Barriers to buying syringes at a pharmacy

Injection drug users (IDUs) can encounter many barriers when trying to buy sterile syringes at a pharmacy. In Tijuana, Mexico, purchasing syringes without a prescription is legal. To identify barriers, we conducted a quantitative survey and focus groups to explore the factors that influence IDUs’ refusals and overcharging. We found that 16% of IDUs were refused, and factors that were associated with refusal and overcharging were homelessness, number of lifetime abscesses, and use of needles. Several pharmacy locations were surveyed and only a few IDUs were successfully buying syringes. The IDUs, however, adapted by limiting purchase attempts to pharmacies that consistently sell syringes.

State laws have been implemented to reduce these barriers. While South Carolina’s law has no reference to needles, seven other states have laws regulating the sale of syringes. These laws require pharmacies to provide additional resources for disposing of used syringes and offer continuing education for harm reduction. However, these laws have limited impact on access to syringes.

Despite the negative consequences associated with syringe misuse, the prevalence of abscesses and reusing syringes is also increased. The introduction of pharmacy-based syringes will increase the likelihood of using new syringes for every injection. In the meantime, the stigma of HIV will be reduced. Ultimately, this will lead to a decrease in transmission rates.