Syringes are used to ingest many types of drugs, from cocaine to insulin. Clean syringes are crucial to maintain good health, and their use helps prevent the spreading of disease. Despite this fact, in a misguided attempt to mitigate illicit drug use, some states have passed laws requiring a prescription to purchase syringes.

Other states have simply passed laws which arbitrarily cap the number of syringes that can be bought without a prescription, while still others require purchasers to sign a logbook. While the majority of states do not have any limitations on the sale of syringes, there are enough to warrant checking before you attempt to purchase any.

Ever wondered if you need a prescription to buy syringes from the local pharmacy in your state? Wonder no more! We have already done the research for you. Read on to learn what you’ll need to obtain clean gear in your state.

State	Prescription Needed?	Caveats
Alabama	No	None
Alaska	Yes	None
Arizona	No	*
Arkansas	No	None
California	No	*
Colorado	No	*
Connecticut	No	**
Delaware	Yes	None
DC	No	None
Florida	No for adults	None
Georgia	No	None
Hawaii	Unknown	Unknown
Idaho	No	***
Illinois	No	None
Indiana	No	****
Iowa	No	None
Kansas	No	None
Kentucky	No	None
Louisiana	No	None
Maine	No	None
Maryland	No	****
Massachusetts	No	None
Michigan	No	None
Minnesota	No	None
Mississippi	No	None
Missouri	No	None
Montana	No	None
Nebraska	No	None
Nevada	No	None
New Hampshire	No	None
New Jersey	Yes	***
New Mexico	No	None
New York	No	**
North Carolina	No	None
North Dakota	No	None
Ohio	No	None
Oklahoma	No	*
Oregon	No	None
Pennsylvania	No	None
Rhode Island	No	None
South Carolina	No	None
South Dakota	No	None
Tennessee	No	None
Texas	No	Varies by Region
Utah	No	Varies by Region
Vermont	No	None
Washington	No	None
West Virginia	No	None
Wisconsin	No	None
Wyoming	No	None

Table Key

*	Some pharmacies require a prescription
**	Quantity Limit without a prescription
***	ID Required
****	Must sign a logbook

What to do when it goes South

Sometimes, even when within their rights to make a purchase, addicts will be denied access to clean gear. It’s worth noting that regardless of the law, some pharmacies will refuse to sell syringes to obvious drug addicts, and unfortunately, there aren’t any consumer protections for them in these situations. This is part of the stigma of being an addict in America. In these situations, rather than making a scene, it’s best to simply go home, take a shower, clean up, and try again at another pharmacy. When asking for them, don’t refer to them as “needles” or “works.” Ask for a pack of a specific gauge “insulin syringes.” Just calmly walk up and say, for example, “Hello, I need a pack of 24 gauge insulin syringes.” Don’t come up with a story about your grandmother needing them. They won’t ask, and it won’t matter. They’ve already decided if they’ll sell to you before you even made the request.