Needle exchange and harm reduction

Harm reduction services

Harm reduction promotes ‘safer’ drug use. RESET services and 7pharmacies in Tower Hamlets offer a free, confidential and anonymous needle exchange programme.

Which helps reduce the spread of blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections. This includes the distribution of sterile equipment for people who use drugs and a safe disposal service.

Residents can also access Naloxone, an emergency medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose of opioids such as heroin or methadone. All sites provide non-judgmental harm reduction advice for safer injecting, alternatives to injecting and links to treatment services.

You can protect yourself (and others) from serious infections if you

Use new sterile injecting equipment every time, and never share

• needles and syringes

• spoons or cookers

• water

• filters

• acids

Create a ‘safe space’ for preparing your hit

You can do this by getting it together on a surface that you can throw away afterwards (like a newspaper or magazine).

Always dispose of used injecting equipment safely

Use a sharps bin to store used equipment until you can take it back to the needle exchange.

Always wash your hands and the injecting site

If you inject drugs you will always inject some bacteria as well. Your immune system will usually find the bacteria and kill them. But sometimes they will cause an infection. This is usually because it is a powerful infection or you have injected a lot of bacteria or your body can’t fight off the infection because you are unwell or your circulation isn’t very good.

Take extra care washing your hands and keep your injecting sites clean

If you are prone to infections then take extra care washing your hands and keep your injecting sites clean.

Hepatitis B: Get vaccinated

There is a vaccination against hepatitis B. All drug users and their close families should have it. If you have been vaccinated, you can’t catch hepatitis B (but you could still catch hepatitis C or HIV).

Harm reduction and needle exchange services in Tower Hamlets

Please find a list of services where you can access clean injecting equipment and return any used equipment. The services also offer harm reduction advice, referral to treatment and access to foil. You can also obtain a naloxone kit.

Useful links

• Needle Exchange and Naloxone services and pharmacies
• Needle Exchange information leaflet
• RESET Outreach and Referral Service (Providence Row)
• RESET Treatment Service