NEEDLE AND SYRINGE PROGRAMMES IN THE

UK

Jamie Bridge, NNEF Chairbridgejamie@hotmail.com

www.nnef.org.uk

• First UK NSPs in 1980s

• ACMD (1988): “The spread of HIV is a greater danger to individual and public health than drug misuse”

• Wealth of international evidence:

– Impacts on HIV, risk behaviour

– Increases drug treatment uptake

– Cost effective

– “No convincing evidence” of unintended consequences

More than just needles…

www.nnef.org.uk

NTA Needle Exchange Audit

•Average DAT in 2006 =

– 2.4 specialist NSPs

– 11 pharmacy-based NSPs

•“Mixed economy”:

~50% DATs did not provide BBV testing

~ 40% did not provide immunisations

~33% did not provide safer injecting advice

www.nnef.org.uk

Issues to Discuss

•Impacts of budget cuts on NSP / HR

•Impacts of localisation

•Over-reliance on pharmacy exchanges

•Complacency among decision makers

•Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs

•Mephedrone injecting

•Reduced staff training and specialism