Needle safety 'vital'

Support service points to safer drug use in south

JOHN HAWKINS/ID 127954

SAFETY FIRST: Southland Harm Reduction Programme manager Sandie Knapp with a needle disposal container.

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Southern intravenous drug users are supplied with up to 6000 needles a month — a move praised by a morphine user who advocates responsible drug use.

There had been a 177 percent increase in needle sales during the past year, with monthly sales reaching as high as 6000, Southland Harm Reduction Programme manager Sandie Knapp said.

However, Ms Knapp said the rise in demand represented safer drug use, rather than an increase in use, with more Southlanders choosing to "minimise harm to themselves and others".

The service, which has been available for two years, supplied about 518 needles a month in 2006 and just under 2000 a month last year.

Some diabetics were also using the service to exchange their insulin needles.

Last week one client returned 300 needles, in exchange for the same amount, Ms Knapp said.

The exchange services the entire southern region, including Queenstown, and had one of the highest return rates in the country, with up to 5000 needles being returned for safe disposal every month.

Needles were not being reused, meaning the spread of blood-born diseases such as Aids and hepatitis C were less likely, Ms Knapp said.

"Getting clean needles out to people is vital." The service employs three staff and is funded by the Health Ministry, receiving $120,000 a year.

Users of the service were encouraged to overcome their drug use, with information of health and addiction services available on site.

"We offer peer support, refer people to addiction services, and empower people to move on.

"We don't just give out needles, we also offer compassion and support." An Invercargill morphine user said the service had made him more aware of the dangers surrounding intravenous drug use.

"Hep C is very easy to spread, it totally freaked me out.

"Mixing blood is a very dangerous thing." The 28-year-old man, who has used morphine for the past two years, said he used the drug for pain relief, for injuries he suffered in a motor vehicle accident 10 years ago.

"I only use once every couple of months, and only if I really have to." The man felt he needed the drug as a daily cocktail of GP prescribed codeine and sleeping pills had lost its effect.

"The doctor can't keep upping and upping the doses," he said.

The man urged users to contact the Southland Harm Reduction Programme as he found the team extremely supportive and found the on-site information useful.

"If I ever have a question they're there to help...they're saving the community.

"You've got to make sure that you control the drug and that the drug doesn't control you." He advised against the use of P, although had never used the drug himself.

Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu AOD counsellor Selina Elkington said the needle exchange service helped to "minimise harm..."