Needle exchange use decreases 13%

The service, which is funded by the Public Health Agency and which was introduced in 2001, is available at five pharmacies in the Western Trust area. These include two in Derry, one each in Strabane and Limavady and one in Enniskillen.

The scheme provides needles and syringes to users of intravenous drugs, such as heroin, stimulants, steroids or tanning agents.

It helps to reduce the potential for drug related litter, lowers the risk of HIV and Hepatitis B and C and puts service users in direct contact with a health professional who can help them engage with other services to address their drug misuse.

The needle exchange services are based in areas where there is an existing pattern of people who inject.

Across the North there are 23 services that participate in the needle and syringe exchange scheme.

In 2018-19, a total of 33,992 visits were made to clinics in all five Trust areas - an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year.

The highest number of visits, and 62 per cent of the total visits across Northern Ireland, were in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Of the total visits, 69% injected opiates only, and 23 per cent injected steroids or steroids as well as tanning agent and opiates.

In the Western Trust there was a 13 per cent decrease in visits, making it the only Trust area to record a decrease.

Between April 2018 and March 2019 there were 2,856 visits, compared to 3,284 the previous year.

More than 80 per cent of those using the scheme in the Western Trust area were men.