Needle exchange and harm reduction
Harm reduction services
Harm reduction encourages 'safer' drug use. RESET services and ten pharmacies in Tower Hamlets offer a free, confidential, and anonymous needle exchange program. This helps prevent the spread of infections like HIV and hepatitis by providing clean equipment and safe disposal options for people who use drugs.
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
- you have injected a lot of bacteria
- 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).
Needle Exchange and Naloxone Services
See a list of services where you can access clean injecting equipment and return any used equipment. All sites also offer harm reduction advice, access to foil and naloxone kits and referral to treatment.
Ali’s Pharmacy
93 Watney Street
Shadwell
E1 2QE
Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: Closed
Bell Pharmacy
534 Roman Road
Bow
E3 5ES
Monday to Saturday: 8.30am to 7pm
Sunday: Closed
Lansbury Chemist
85 Chrisp Street
Poplar
E14 6GG
Monday to Friday: 9am to 7pm
Saturday: 9am to 3pm
Sunday: Closed
Lincoln Pharmacy
124 St Paul’s Way
E3 4QA
Monday to Friday: 9am to 7pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Sunday: Closed
Nash Pharmacy
817 Commercial Road
E14 7HG
Monday to Friday: 9am to 7pm
Saturday: 9am to 2pm
Sunday: Closed
Cubitt Town Pharmacy
143 Manchester Road
E14 3DN
Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm
Saturday: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Sunday: Closed
Britannia Pharmacy
80 Roman Road
Globe Town
E2 0PG
Monday to Friday: 9am to 7pm
Saturday: 9am to 1pm
Sunday: Closed
Columbia Pharmacy
104 Columbia Road
E2 7QA
Monday to Friday: 9am to 6.30pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Day Lewis Pharmacy Old Montague
12-14 Old Montague Street
E1 5NG
Monday to Friday: 8am to 7pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Barkantine Pharmacy
121 Westferry Road
E14 8JH
Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 8pm
Saturday: 9am to 7pm
Sunday: Closed
RESET Outreach and Referral Service (Providence Row)
The Dellow Centre
82 Wentworth Street
E1 7SA
Tel: 0800 802 1860
Monday to Friday: 9am to 12.30pm
1.30 to 3.30pm
RESET Treatment Service
183 Whitechapel Road
E1 1DN
Tel: 020 3889 9510
Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 9am to 5pm
Wednesday: 1 to 5pm
Thursday: 9am to 8pm
RESET Treatment Service
71a Johnson Street
E1 0AQ
Tel: 020 3889 9510
Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 9am to 5pm
Wednesday: 1 to 5pm
Thursday: 9am to 8pm
Ambrose King Centre (Chemsex packs only)
Royal London Hospital
Mount Terrace
E1 1BB
Tel: 020 7377 7306 or 7307
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9am to 6.30pm
Wednesday: 12 to 6.30pm
Friday: 9am to 3.30pm
Saturday: 9am to 12.30pm
Sunday: Closed
Useful resources