What to Expect
Enrolling in our needle exchange program is a straightforward process designed to ensure your safety, privacy, and well-being. This guide will walk you through each step, so you know exactly what to expect. Our team is here to provide a non-judgmental, supportive environment where your health and safety are our top priorities.
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The enrollment process takes between 15-20 minutes.
01
Get Your New Participant ID card
IDEA Exchange Tampa is ANONYMOUS. No form of personal ID is required to enroll in our program. Instead, when a new participant is enrolled in our program, our computer system gives them a participant ID and a coded ID that is unique to them. The Participant ID is their number in the enrollment list (ex. 2000). The coded ID is their unique code created from their first and last name initials, their mother's first and last name initials, the month and year of their birth, and then their race and sex.
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Hover over the image to the right for an example ID card.
Your unique IDEA Exchange Tampa ID card is required for all future exchanges.
Participant's Name: Jane Doe
Participant's Mother's Name: Elmo Eeyore
DOB: January 1, 1999
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Female
02
HIV and Hepatitis C Testing
HIV and Hepatitis C antibody screenings are a part of our process for enrollment and for returning participants as part of our mission under the Infectious Disease Elimination Act (IDEA).
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HIV and Hepatitis C tests are administered through oral swabs and results are ready within 10-15 minutes.
03
Enrollment Questions
While you are waiting for the results of your HIV and Hepatitis C screenings, one of our intake personnel will ask you some questions to check in on you and see how you are doing. We will also ask you what size needles you use and what other supplies or services you want or need.
04
1:1 Needle Exchange
Our 1:1 needle exchange means that for every 1 needle you give us, we will give you one back. We currently have 1/2-inch 27 and 29-gauge needles and 5/16-inch 30 gauge needles.
05
More supplies!
In addition to exchanging needles, we provide you with a safe injection booklet, two Narcan (up to 6 per visit), and additional supplies as available (saline, alcohol prep pads, antibiotic ointment, cotton rounds, bandaids/gauze/bandages, tourniquets, etc.). We also occasionally have clothing and hygiene kits on request.
![IMG_5227[1]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5efb0e_7fbff964c3074e1eaf67db6d9adf18d8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_355,h_266,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_5227%5B1%5D_edited.jpg)
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More Resources!
Some of our additional services include wound care, referrals to recovery services and mental health counseling, appointments to our Bridge Clinic for Suboxone or Subutex and hepatitis C treatment, onsite health insurance navigation, and HIV treatment referrals. If you need a service not listed, please let us know. We have many community partnerships.
Our priority at IDEA Exchange Tampa is to be a safe space for people who use drugs to access harm reduction services. We continuously incorporate participant feedback into our service delivery, so if there are any services or resources you are interested in, please let us know.