Yes, I believe they obviously could be used as a weapon. A lot of these syringes are rented out, and inmates share them. With the concerns about HIV and hepatitis C, I definitely would not want to be stuck with one of those needles. In another sense too, it's a staff safety concern. When staff are searching an inmate's cell, they always ask them whether there is anything sharp that might poke or harm them, and the inmate normally says no. But during a routine search, there is the possibility that a staff member might be stuck by one of these needles.
On October 27th, 2011. See this statement in context.