Rochester warned strict limits on needle exchanges will increase ODs, disease, litter

By: Karen Dandurant

Outlets: Foster's Daily Democrat

Published: May 27, 2026

Words: 1,682

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago


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ROCHESTER — The City Council could soon approve an ordinance placing significant restrictions on syringe services, also known as needle exchange programs, in response to residents complaining about finding needles in public places.

Recovery experts say the ordinance, which is modeled after Manchester and includes limiting needle exchanges to one-to-one, would make Rochester's drug problems worse. The city had 11 fatal overdoses in 2025, according to police data provided by SOS Recovery.

Syringe …

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