The state issued a report declaring its needle exchange program, operated with public as well as a private funding, was a success.

Drug addicts and other potential spreaders of diseases were offered to exchange their dirty, used, and unclean needles, for clean ones. The aim of the program was to reduce the rate of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis that spread through used syringes. 40-percent of all HIV cases in New Jersey stem from the use of unclean needles.

In Paterson, 30,000 syringes were returned, and 59,000 were dispensed out. In other words for every used syringe that was returned, two clean ones were handed out.

Nearly 10,000 individuals participated in the program. The program ran in Paterson and 4 other major cities in the state.