Update on ESAP

It has been over five years since the inception of the New York State (NYS) Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP). Since that time, close to 3,000 pharmacies have integrated ESAP into their businesses by providing non-prescription syringe sales and participating in efforts to ensure safe syringe disposal. Through ESAP, pharmacies have truly made a difference in the prevention of blood borne diseases, most notably HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C, and in making syringes available to people who need them when they do not have a prescription.

This provides answers to two frequently asked questions to further assist pharmacies with the key elements of ESAP:

1. Is it necessary to obtain identification from customers to sell or furnish non-prescription syringes?
   ESAP-registered pharmacies may sell or furnish syringes to anyone 18 years of age or older without a prescription. Customers who wish to purchase syringes do not need to provide their name or any form of identification. However, if there is a doubt about whether a customer is 18 years of age, pharmacy staff may request to see the date of birth on valid identification. This can be done sensitively, without examining or recording the customer's name.
2. Are there only specific types of syringes that can be sold or furnished through ESAP?
   ESAP-registered pharmacies may sell or furnish up to 10 syringes of any type or size per transaction. In many instances, customers may wish to purchase fewer than 10 syringes at a time. ESAP-registered pharmacies may choose to sell syringes singly or in any quantity up to 10. There is no limit to the number of times a customer may purchase syringes in a day.

For more information regarding ESAP, please visit the NYS Department of Health's ESAP web site. The web site includes registration information for pharmacies that wish to participate in ESAP, information on how to obtain free educational materials for customers, and directories of ESAP providers and syringe collection sites by county.