Needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) supply needles and syringes for people who inject drugs. In addition, they often supply other equipment used to prepare and take drugs (for example, filters, mixing containers and sterile water). The majority of needle and syringe programmes are run by pharmacies and drug services. They may operate from fixed, mobile or outreach sites.
Many also aim to reduce the other harms caused by injecting and provide:
- advice on safer injecting practices
- advice on minimising the harm done by drugs, including performance and image enhancing drugs advice on how to avoid and manage an overdose
- information on the safe handling and disposal of injecting equipment
- access to blood-borne virus testing, vaccination and treatment services
- help to stop injecting drugs, including access to drug treatment (for example, opioid substitution therapy) and encouragement to switch to safer drug taking practices, if these are available
- other health and welfare services (including condom provision).
Whose health will benefit?
These measures aim to reduce the harm caused to people who inject drugs.
This, in turn, will reduce the prevalence of blood-borne viruses and bacterial infections, so benefiting wider society.
