Needle and syring programs
There are many needle and syringe programs in Australia. Some are run from within drug agencies, some by user groups and some from community pharmacies. Many pharmacies also sell injecting equipment.

Many needle and syringe programs are free and all are confidential. When you visit, get enough syringes to have a clean fit every time until you can get back - it's better to overestimate how many you will need than to have to reuse injecting equipment.

Needle and syringe provision has two functions: to give out sterile injecting equipment and to provide a safe place to dispose of used injecting equipment.

You don't have to return used syringes to get clean equipment at most programs. But, because of the

public fear of finding used needles and syringes, the future of needle and syringe provision, to some extent, depends on the ‘return rate’ - the number of sharpsafe containers returned to programs.

So if you want to help your needle and syringe program to continue operating, please take back your used fits in the sharpsafe container they give you.

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