NEEDLE AND SYRINGE PROGRAMMES IN THE UK Jamie Bridge, NNEF Chair
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…
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
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