Needle Exchange provision
Our specialist drug service offers a needle exchanges provision at all our bases and satellite sites. Needle exchanges are a key harm reduction intervention designed to reduce the health risks associated with injecting drug use. These services provide sterile injecting equipment to prevent the transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Did you know for every £1 spent on needle exchange programmes, it saves approximately £9 in healthcare costs by preventing infections?
Key Services Offered:
- Distribution of free sterile needles, syringes, and other injecting paraphernalia
- Safe disposal of used equipment
- Information and guidance on safer injecting practices and overdose prevention
- Access to testing and vaccinations for blood-borne viruses
- Referral pathways to treatment services, including detoxification, rehabilitation, and healthcare
- Provision of naloxone kits and overdose response training
- Additional support around health and wellbeing, including sexual health advice
Needle exchanges are an essential part of a comprehensive substance misuse service, supporting both individual and public health while providing a crucial engagement point for further treatment and recovery options.