Syringe litter did not increase after a needle exchange ban was overturned in Pueblo, Colorado, but health services suffered

In May 2024, the City Council of Pueblo, Colorado, voted to ban syringe service programs, also called needle exchanges.

These programs are community-run initiatives that provide healthcare services, including clean syringes, to people who use drugs.

The ban was motivated by concerns about syringe litter—used needles improperly discarded in public spaces.

The ban was overturned three weeks later by a Pueblo District Court judge, who ruled it violated state law.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argued that the ban conflicted with a 2010 Colorado state statute authorizing syringe exchanges.

During the brief ban, the two needle exchanges in Pueblo remained open but stopped distributing syringes while continuing other services.