Now that we've run the gamut on syringe disposal options from Silly to Wasteful to downright Dangerous for the umpteenth time on these pages are we ready to put the Try-Pano-Phobia beast to rest once and for all?
The hazard:
Needle stick. Not the used barrel. Not the plunger. Not ANY of the plastic bits. It's the used sharp folks not the syringe.
Why? A small amount of blood remains inside the needle after injection. The needle provides an ideal environment to sustain virus which otherwise would quickly perish outside the body. Most viruses, especially life threatening ones, can not infect simply by coming in contact with healthy intact skin.
Many common viruses like common cold virus infect through the eyes, nose or mouth. While a needle stick might also transfer a cold we obviously aren't hysterical about that. Virus capable of causing severe or incurable disease however ARE the issue at hand.
We protect ourselves and others from most communicable disease through good hygiene like covering our face when we cough or sneeze and by washing our hands.
A needle prick or re-use escorts virus past the protective dermis directly in to the blood. Epidemiological statistics tell us that we need need to be concerned about hepatitis and HIV transmitted through needles.
SNIP the very tip off a needle with a common nail clipper and the risk is greatly reduced. SNIP what remains of the shaft in to bits and the risk of transmission is virtually eliminated. One could handle those bits with essentially zero risk that they will penetrate the skin. We aren't handling them though- they will be drowned in the toilet 30 seconds after injection.
Any doubters out there please speak up.
Current safe practice says we must immediately deposit both syringe and needle in an approved sharps container. Can't argue with that. Effective most of the time. Notice the words "approved sharps container" Not Coke can. Not detergent bottle. Not "wrap in duct tape"
Can you, as a conscientiousness hypodermic user, insure that you will ONLY use "approved sharps containers" 100% of the time forever?
No, I didn't think so. You're not going to travel with sharps containers. At some point you won't have one available. Let's deal with that eventuality.
SNIP DON'T CARRY!
Public health officials are tasked with getting one message out that works. Clinics were the first places where needle stick hazard was addressed. Sharps containers were invented to protect nurses not self-injectors.
Asking nurses to snip isn't safe. They might slip. The self-injector on the other hand is not at risk from a self-inflicted prick.
To those folks who continually propose complicated expensive solutions for preventing needle sticks:
Please explain why being dependent on special order supplies and transportation to disposal sites makes any sense at all.