NEED's central function is to make sure that a steady supply of clean syringes is made available to any and all in need, with the goal being to reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C commonly associated with sharing used syringes. That said, we are consistently looking to expand the scope of our work by offering practical and effective services to people who have few options when seeking health care. Below you can learn more about the services we provide and some of the projects that we work on.

FTIR drug checking

NEED has partnered with HEPPAC to provide free FTIR drug checking at our Thursday site, from 6-7 p.m. (note that FTIR drug checking is not offered for the entirety of our Thursday site). Individuals can bring samples to the folx at HEPPAC and get same-day results on what’s in their samples. After a sample is analyzed in-house, it’s sent out for confirmatory testing. The HEPPAC FTIR drug checking van is navy blue and parks next to us on University, closer to the intersection with San Pablo.

New to FTIR drug testing? The FTIR machine (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) uses infrared light absorption to assess what’s in a substance. As long as there is 5% or more of a substance in a sample, the FTIR will pick it up. (Note: benzos are often so strong that there is less than 5% of active ingredient in the pill and as a result won’t get picked up by a FTIR machine. If you’re wondering if your benzo is a benzo, a benzo test strip is a great way to go. HEPPAC will use a test strip on your sample before running it through the FTIR machine, but in a pinch, NEED should have benzo test strips available at each of our three sites as well as a number of other varieties of test strips.)

We still offer a variety of test strips at our three sites, but HEPPAC's FTIR service gives more accurate information than some of the test strips available. Fentanyl test strips, for instance, are famous for generating false positives on meth and molly. (There have been almost no FTIR-documented cases of meth that’s adulterated by Fentanyl; the rumor has likely been generated by faulty test strips.) If you’re wondering about the purity of your meth, bring it on down to the folx at HEPPAC on a Thursday evening. If you don’t have the ability to bring it to our friends at HEPPAC, and you use a strip on your meth and get a positive, greatly dilute the concentration of meth (add a lot more water) and then use another strip. The positive (one line) should become negative (two lines).

Needle Exchange

We run three needle exchange/distribution sites per week: Sunday 6-8pm, Tuesday 4-6pm, and Thursday 6-8pm.

Harm Reduction Supplies

At NEED's three sites you'll find an ample supply of the following:

• Syringes:
• 27g 5/8" 1cc ("longs")
• 27g 1/2" 1cc
• 28g 1/2" 1cc ("microfines" or "shorts")
• 28g 1/2" 1/2cc ("Lo-Dose")
• 29g 1/2" 1cc
• 29g 5/16" 1cc
• 30g 1/2" 1cc
• 30g 5/16" 1cc
• 31g 5/16" 1cc ("bee stingers")
• 31g 15/64" (6mm) 1cc
• Muscling rigs:
• 18g 1 1/2"
• 22g 1 1/2"
• 23g 1"
• 25g 5/8"
• 25g 1"
• 25g 1 1/2"
• 27g 1/2"
• 279 1 1/4"
• 30g 1 1/2"
• Barrels:
• 1cc slip tip and luer lock
• 3cc luer lock
• Safe injection supplies:
• Cotton
• Sterfilts
• Wheel filters
• Cookers
• Ties (tourniquets) -- latex and non-latex
• Biohazard containers
• Alcohol pads
• Sterile water and saline
• Safer smoking supples:
• Bubbles
• Hammers
• Straight Shooters
• Pushers
• Screens and Chore
• Foil and straws
• Dabbers
• Other harm reduction supplies:
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, "breakdown")
• Lactose
• Boofing kits
• Snorting kits
• Safer sex supplies:
• Internal and external condoms
• Latex-free internal condoms
• Lube (water-based, silicone, hybrid)
• Non-harm-reduction-related supplies:
• Hygiene supplies
• Bathing wipes
• Socks
• Denture care supplies
• Electrolyte mix
• Drinking water
• Ensure and/or Boost nutritional drinks
• Adult incontinence supplies (call ahead to ensure availability)
• Candy!

If there's a supply you don't see, just ask; we might have it!

Note: This a list of supplies NEED typically offers at its sites. Although we try our best to keep everything in stock, occasionally, we run out of supplies.

Overdose Prevention

Preventing an overdose is essential knowledge for anyone using injection drugs. We aim to educate users and staff alike on the basics of overdose prevention, including the use of naloxone to reverse the effect of an opiate overdose.

Following the passage of AB 635 (Civil Code § 1714.22) in January 2014, NEED is proud to announce that it distributes Naloxone for overdose prevention at all of its sites.

Information & Referrals

At each site we have available information on a variety of providers offering services pertinent to exchange users and community members, including HIV/AIDS testing and prevention; STD testing and education; and addiction programs.

Help with Medi-Cal Enrollment at Homeless Action Center

Are you eligible for Medi-Cal health benefits, but not yet enrolled? Visit the Homeless Action Center (HAC) for assistance with enrolling in Medi-Cal online. Previously, the HAC in Berkeley was next to NEED’s Tuesday site. In 2025, it moved to 2150 Dwight Way, still in Berkeley.

Click here for the Homeless Action Center's Berkeley location and its hours.

(Note that the Homeless Action Center does NOT provide syringes.)