Vending the right message
A CHARITY has introduced vending machines with clean needles to homeless centres in a bid to tackle the drug deaths crisis.
In a first for the country, Hillcrest Futures has installed the machines in four hostels in Edinburgh and Glasgow to provide clean equipment for injecting drugs.
Bosses say they are confident the machines, manufactured by Orion Medical Supplies, will help users inject safely.
Ryan Frampton, manager of three Hillcrest Futures’ homeless services in Edinburgh, said: “Lockdown was a difficult time for everyone and we saw a decline in the mental health of people we support.
“For those using drugs, we saw an increase in behaviours that put people at risk.
“People using our services were no longer leaving the project to attend NHS needle exchanges and instead shared needles.
“This put them at high risk of contracting bloodborne viruses and other infections.
“After doing some research, we secured funding from the Hillcrest Foundation to acquire the vending machines.
“Having the machines located within homeless services increases the opportunity for staff to engage when people collect tokens, build rapport and trust, and help individuals take the first steps towards recovery.”
Wez Steele, training and development officer at the Scottish Drugs Forum, added: “Reducing the stigma associated with substance use is essential in reducing preventable drug-related deaths.
“It’s encouraging to see such an innovative and progressive project finding ways to make harm reduction equipment more easily accessible.”