Stats reveal injecting equipment on streets
Over 400,000 free syringes and needles were handed out across Lanarkshire to users of illicit drugs last year.
A new report reveals that an estimated 6900 people received injecting equipment from the NHS.
The annual figures show that 424,034 needles and syringes were distributed, an average of 1161 every day across the county.
It comes just a week after we revealed specialist teams lifted 12 discarded needles from Rutherglen’s streets last year – rising to 62 across the whole of South Lanarkshire.
Ross Miller, leader of NHS Lanarkshire’s harm reduction team, said: “Injecting equipment provision (IEP) has been found to be effective in reducing risk for people who inject drugs.
“There are a number of health risks associated with injecting drug use, including bacterial infections such as septicaemia and tetanus and abscesses, cellulitis and collapsed veins which can result from injecting with a blunt needle.
“Injectors are also susceptible to a range of blood-borne virus (BBV) infections, the most prevalent of which is hepatitis C.
“Given this, IEP interventions help reduce the risk of infection and prevent the transmission of BBVs.
“It is important to note that IEP interventions also include advice on the safe disposal of used injecting equipment.
“All IEP services are equipped to receive used injecting equipment and people using the services are encouraged to take a sharps bin and return equipment once used.”
Across Lanarkshire an average of 61 needles and syringes were distributed per problem drug user in 2016/17.
The figures for 2016/17 were released last week by Information Services Division Scotland, a part of NHS Scotland which provides health service data used in planning.
These latest numbers reveal a drop of 52,353 from the previous year, when 476,387 needles were handed out across Lanarkshire.
The annual report states: “The purpose of injecting equipment provision is harm reduction.
“The provision of injecting equipment is effective in reducing injecting risk behaviours in people who inject drugs.
“This intervention helps prevent the transmission of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis C and HIV among people who inject drugs, and reduces associated healthcare costs.”
NHS Lanarkshire says that the cost of providing the needles and syringes to drug users across Lanarkshire was around £21,000 in 2016/17. The average cost per set of injecting tools is 5p.
Details of needle exchange services across Lanarkshire can be found at www.needleexchange.scot.
In addition, NHS Lanarkshire’s harm reduction team can be contacted on 01236 707738.
There are a number of health risks associated with injecting