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Vending Machine |
Disposal |
AN INNOVATIVE MOVE IN COLWYN BAY TO PROVIDE A NEEDLE EXCHANGE SERVICE |
As we are all well aware the needs of people addicted to drugs varies considerably, and tackling these needs is a complex issue. Not everyone agrees with each other on how to fulfil these needs, but certainly the NWSMF would (and have) defended individual service provider’s right to undertake their own type of treatment for those clients who are deemed suitable by their service standards. However, one single type of treatment is not what everyone requires, or can cope with, and there is a need to provide varying forms of treatment. There is a need also to cater for those who are still using drugs, particularly those injecting and cannot yet bring themselves to seek, undergo or otherwise continue with treatment for whatever personal reason. People who continue to use drugs, especially those who inject, run considerable health risks. As such, they can then pose health risks to other individuals who are not even on the drug scene through social/sexual contact. The spread of blood borne viruses is therefore a primary concern to the NWSMF. In most areas of north Wales, the problem is addressed in an adult and pragmatic manner, through providing a needle syringe exchange scheme to users. This helps ensure that needles are not shared and cuts down on the problems identified in sharing. The Harm Reduction Team work extremely hard in this preventative field, but are facing hostility in the Colwyn Bay area, simply because local people feel that not providing this service will make the problem or the users go away or that by providing it, this encourages injecting. The problem won't go away unless it is tackled in a structured manner. Part of that structure is to provide clean needles until these individuals can be encouraged to seek treatment, either through organisations such as the generic Substance Misuse Teams; CAIS, Touchstone 12 or any other team. The benefits provided by the Harm Reduction Team in the form of needle syringe exchange to injecting individuals and the health service as a whole are obvious, if needle exchange can stop the spread of Hepatitis and HIV. There is no evidence whatsoever that proving this service encourages injecting. As there are no needle exchange facilities in any of the local chemists or GP surgeries in the Colwyn Bay area, an innovative approach has been taken by the NWSMF in the proposed provision of a needle syringe vending machine. This proposed use of a vending machine is going to provide a much needed facility in Colwyn Bay. It will not be a 'honey pot' effect, as users elsewhere already have facilities for needle exchange. It will have secure access as only token provided by the drug services will be accepted by the machine. It will also have the benefit of a secure purpose built bin attached to it, as a receptacle for used needles to be deposited. The pack vended by the machine will contain not only clean needles, but the distilled water pack, citric acid pack and a condom, together with a small plastic container to put the used needles into safely in order to return them to the bin. It must be stressed that there are other services provided to substance misusers in Colwyn Bay, including help and support for treatment; housing; employment/education; mentoring; user group support; social support and counselling. These services work extremely well together with the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) and the DAWN projects being fine examples. The only additional service needed is the needle exchange service. Ideally, the NWSMF would like to see all chemists and GP surgeries in the Colwyn Bay area emulating the needle exchange service provided by their counterparts all over north Wales, especially now that many chemists have had special consultation booths installed in their premises, which could be utilised for service users requiring a needle exchange service.
Maldwyn Roberts |
