SWAP

SWAP (Syringe Exchange Program)

Stark Wide Approach to Prevention (SWAP) is Stark County’s needle service program. SWAP opened in Canton (2017) and in Alliance (2025) in an effort to decrease blood-borne pathogen transmission among individuals who inject drugs. Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States and is primarily spread through contact with the blood of an infected person putting individuals who share needles and other drug paraphernalia at the highest risk of contracting the disease. In addition, more than 8,000 people per year are diagnosed with HIV through the sharing of contaminated syringes and needle works each year. 

SWAP provides harm reduction services, access to treatment, wound care, and new needles to individuals who inject drugs. Harm reduction principles are evidence-based and include reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.

For Participants:

Our services are 100% anonymous, meaning you do NOT need to identify yourself in any way. We issue participants a card with an anonymous, non-identifiable code so that individuals can identify themselves as a SWAP participant. Under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3707.57, those with a participant card are protected from prosecution for possession of a needle up to 1,000 feet from the exchange site. This law does not protect those who have any amount of illegal substance on them.

You do NOT have to bring back used syringes to receive new needles. However, we must keep our community free from used syringes by disposing of them safely. We offer safe disposal of used syringes. The amount of syringes that an individual brings with them, determines how many clean needles they receive (current limit 50).

Syringes from SWAP are for the participant’s use only. We ask that participants help spread the word and encourage others to visit SWAP to get their harm-reduction supplies.