“All this is doing is putting money in the pockets of addicts, so they can continue to fuel their habits, rather than helping them break free of their disease."

“All this is doing is putting money in the pockets of addicts, so they can continue to fuel their habits, rather than helping them break free of their disease."

Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has quietly made a pilot program that pays drug users for their used needles permanent. Critics say the move will only encourage more drug use as those who use drugs will be incentivized to turn in more used needles for cash.

According to a report from the New York Post, the Big Apple's budget for the fiscal year includes $3 million to maintain the Health Department’s Community Syringe Redemption Program. The program pays junkies 20 cents per syringe turned in. Those using drugs can get paid for up to 50 used needles a day for $10, and can turn them in at eight different drop-off sites. The sites are located in the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

The program was piloted as something that would get used needles off the streets and off public property, and was initially approved with legislation that was passed in 2022. The official program started in 2025. Republican Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola slammed the program, saying that the cash—provided to the users through $189 million in settlement funds from opioid manufacturers and distributors—“should all be going toward addiction treatment services" instead of paying drug users for their used needles.

“All this is doing is putting money in the pockets of addicts, so they can continue to fuel their habits, rather than helping them break free of their disease,” she added.

Over 2.3 million needles have been collected with the program over its first 16 months, leading to payouts of nearly $300,000 in cash. The program was supposed to help the Sanitation Department with its efforts in picking up used needles around parks and other public places, but the department says that they are still picking up the same number of needles as before the program was launched.

Health Department spokesperson Rachel Vick, however, lauded the program, saying that “everyone deserves to live in a community free of syringe litter” in public spaces.

“The city’s syringe redemption program allows New Yorkers in neighborhoods where we see the most complaints to help keep their communities clean, while safely disposing of medical waste and connecting people in need to nearby care,” Vick added. “We look forward to continuing this important work in the years to come.”