Needle & Syringe Program (NSP)

Page content: Further information | Models | Primary NSPs | Enhanced secondary NSPs | Secondary NSPs | NSP services in Victoria | Why is it needed? | Peak bodies | Victorian Needle and Syringe Program Operating Policy and Guidelines

The Victorian Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) is a major public health initiative to minimise the spread of blood borne viruses HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C among injecting drug users and to the wider community.

It began in 1987 and operates through and in a range of different service providers. These include: Primary NSP’s whose sole function is NSP, community health services, hospital accident and emergency units, councils, drug treatment agencies, youth organisations and pharmacies.

For further information

For information on the safe retrieval and disposal of needles and syringes and contact details of NSP providers, call Disposal Help-Line on 1800 552 355 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For information and contact details of all drug treatment services, call the 24 hour telephone service DirectLine on 1800 888 236.

Models

In Victoria there are three NSP models in use, Primary, Enhanced Secondary and Secondary NSPs.

Primary NSP

Primary NSP are stand alone services established and funded for the specific purpose of ensuring the availability of sterile needles and syringes to injecting drug users (IDUs), provide health information and education, make referrals into voluntary drug treatment and liaise with local agencies such as police, local government, health, drug treatment and welfare agencies, as well as other NSP services. They also distribute sharps disposal containers, alcohol swabs, condoms and water-based lubricant.

In addition, they provide services for the appropriate disposal of used injecting equipment. Primary NSPs are also responsible for establishing and maintaining networks with local IDUs and secondary community and pharmacy based NSPs in their region.

Enhanced secondary NSPs

Enhanced Secondary NSPs are funded programs operating within existing organisations, such as community health services and hospitals. In these cases the NSP is supplementary to the primary service objectives of that organisation. Enhanced secondary NSPs distribute needles and syringes to injecting drug users (IDUs), provide health information and education, make referrals into voluntary drug treatment and liaise with local agencies such as police, local government, health, drug treatment and welfare agencies, as well as other NSP services. They also distribute sharps disposal containers, alcohol swabs, condoms and water-based lubricant and provide options for the appropriate disposal of used injecting equipment.

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Secondary NSPs

Secondary NSPs are unfunded programs operating within existing organisations, such as community health services, hospitals and pharmacies, where the NSP is supplementary to the primary service objectives of that organisation. Secondary NSPs distribute needles and syringes, sharps disposal containers, sterile swabs, condoms and water-based lubricant and provide health information. They also provide options for the appropriate disposal of used injecting equipment. There is no direct funding allocated to secondary NSPs.

NSP services in Victoria

Within the above service models there are various services types offered:

• Fixed Site;
• Mobile Services;
• Disposal Hotline;
• Outreach; and
• Outreach Foot Patrol.

As at 30 June 2003 there were 250 registered NSPs in Victoria, of which 168 were actively distributing injecting equipment.

Why is it needed?

Sharing a used needle or other injecting equipment is one of the most effective methods of transmitting blood borne viruses.

In Australia NSPs have prevented thousands of cases of infection among people who inject drugs and, in turn, have protected the rest of the community.

In October 2002, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aging published the findings of a Return on Investment in Needle and Syringe Programs in Australia study and found that an investment of $141 million across Australia in the 10 years between 1991 and 2000, the NSP produced savings of 589,000 life years and $2.4 Billion through the prevention of 25,000 HIV and 21,000 hepatitis C infections.

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Peak bodies

Peak bodies in relation to the NSP are:

Anex (the Association for Prevention and Harm Reduction Programs)

Anex is a non-government community-based organisation in Australia primarily aiming to continually improve and support the needle and syringe program (NSP) sector, and to reduce the harms drug use may cause to the entire community.

Anex membership includes NSP outlets, individuals and organisations interested in drug harm prevention and in particular, the provision of NSP services. It is governed by a Board of Management and overseen by an Executive Officer.

Phone: (61 3) 9486 6399
Email: info@anex.org.au
Web: Anex (the Association for Prevention and Harm Reduction Programs)

VIVAIDS Victorian Drug User Group

VIVAIDS is a state-wide membership based organisation of drug users. Membership is made up of current users, ex-users and people who agree with the group’s aims and objectives. VIVAIDS provides peer education, information; referral services to drug users, facilitates working groups on specific issues and projects, publishes WHACK Magazine and runs a needle and syringe program.

Phone: (61 3) 9329 1500
Email: drugsafe@vicnet.net.au
Web: VIVAIDS Victorian Drug User Group

Hepatitis C Council of Victoria Inc.

The Hepatitis C Council of Victoria Inc. is a statewide organisation representing and catering to the needs of people with hepatitis C, their carers, partners, family and friends.

The Council works to achieve this through support, advocacy, education and consultation.

Phone: 1800 703 003
Web: http://www.hepcvic.org.au/

Victorian Aids Council
The Victorian AIDS Council was formed in 1983 as the central part of the Victorian gay community’s response to HIV/AIDS.
The council’s core work aims to preserve the independence, dignity and health of people with HIV/AIDS and to reduce the transmission of HIV.

Phone: (61 3) 9865 6700
Email: enquiries@vicaids.asn.au
Web: http://www.vicaids.asn.au/content/default.asp

For further information on Victorian and National Peak Bodies relevant to Drug Related Services:
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/drugservices/links/index.htm

Victorian Needle and Syringe Program Operating Policy and Guidelines

The Victorian Needle and Syringe Program Operating Policy and Guidelines specify the responsibilities governing NSP sites. These guidelines should be followed by all services participating in the NSP.

The guidelines aim to help NSPs minimise the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and other bloodborne viruses among injecting drug users, their sexual partners and children, and from them to the non-injecting community.

Please visit the publications section to download the Operating Policy and Guidelines.

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