Almost 32,000 Transactions Made At Needle Exchanges Across NI

A total of 31,851 transactions were made by the Needle and Syringe Exchange Service (NSES) across Northern Ireland in 2023, according to new figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Helping to stop the spread of infection from potential drug-related litter and sharing of injecting equipment, the NSES also provides those who use the service with direct contact with a health professional who can help them engage with additional services they may require.

Anyone who injects substances can use a needle exchange service to access clean equipment, and this includes people who inject substances such as performance enhancing steroids, tanning agents, stimulants and opioids.

Of the substances reported to the NSES, heroin/morphine was reported most frequently (11,201), with cocaine powder (9,265) and anabolic steroids (6,996) the next most reported.

Kevin Bailey, Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol at the PHA, said: "Sharing or reusing injecting equipment can increase the risk of bloodborne viruses so needle exchanges have an important role to play in helping to protect not only those using the service, but also the wider community more generally by providing clean equipment for people who inject substances.

"NSES are based in areas where there is an existing pattern of people who inject, but the service benefits the entire community by helping to lower the risk of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C within the wider population. "Providing services locally is vital, as people who inject substances are often vulnerable, may be in poor health, dealing with complex social issues and without local access to sterile equipment and advice. Needle exchanges are particularly valuable for engaging these people, because it may be the only service they are willing to use and provides opportunities to signpost them to additional support and information."

Community pharmacies continue to complete most of the overall transactions of the NSES at 50.4% of the total in 2023, followed by the community-based providers completing 46% of the total transactions.

In 2022, the PHA fully implemented a new online database to record needle exchange activity alongside anonymous, non-identifiable client data. This database is called the Neo360 Harm Reduction Information System and became fully operational across all NSES sites on 1 December 2022.

Kevin Bailey continued: "With the introduction of the new online Neo360 Harm Reduction Information System, live data can be accessed, immediately, which in turn will allow for a timely and effective public health response to any trends we identify.

"For the first time, Neo360 provides the client the opportunity to report how they administer the substance used, which is additional information we can capture and respond to appropriately. For example, as part of our strategy to promote harm reduction, staff within needle exchange sites are encouraged to dispense foils which will support smoking, thus, reducing the added harm that is caused through injecting."