Needle exchange and harm reduction

Harm reduction services

Harm reduction promotes ‘safer’ drug use. There are now a number of services in Tower Hamlets that provide sterile needles and syringes as well as providing advice on safer injecting and a full range of harm reduction advice and support including access to health screening, immunisation and sexual health 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, or
• 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.

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

Beaumont House

Monday, Wednesday & Fri 9.30am-5.30pm
Tuesday 1pm-8pm
Thursday 9:30am-8pm
Saturday 10am-2pm, Sun closed

Mile End Hospital
Bancroft Road, E1 4DG
T: 020 8121 5301

Reset Outreach and Referral Service
Providence Row

Monday-Friday 9.30am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3.30pm

The Dellow Centre
82 Wentworth Street,
E1 7SA
T: 0800 802 1860

In addition to the above services, needle exchange is also available at:

Lincoln Pharmacy
Monday-Wednesday 9am-8pm,
Thursday-Friday 8am- 8pm,
Sat 9am-5pm

60 St Paul’s Way,
E3 4AL
T: 020 7538 0817

Cubitt Town Pharmacy
Monday-Friday 9am-6pm,
Saturday 9am-12.30pm

143 Manchester Road,
E14 3DN
T: 020 7987 1487

Rigcharm Pharmacy
Monday-Friday 9am-7pm,
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 10am-2pm

93 Watney Street,
E1 2QE
T: 020 7790 9150

Bell Pharmacy
Monday-Saturday 7am-11pm
Sunday 10am–12pm

534 Roman Road,
E3 5ES
T: 020 8980 8853