Harm Reduction

“Harm reduction should aim to reduce or eliminate the harms (behaviours, diseases or deaths) associated with drug misuse.” NTA 2005

Harm reduction in drug treatment aims to reduce:

  • The relative risks associated with drug misuse, from reducing the sharing of injecting equipment, through to stopping injecting, substitution on opioid drugs for heroin misusers and abstinence from illegal drugs.
  • To prevent blood-borne diseases (most particularly HIV and hepatitis infections) and promote safer practices to users and carers
  • Harmful behaviours associated within particular stimulants and opiate use
  • Overdose and drug related deaths
  • Reduce the negative impact of illicit drug use on the communities of Sandwell

Specific harm reduction interventions in Sandwell:

  • Needle exchangeThe provision and disposal of needles and syringes and other clean injecting equipment (e.g. spoons, filters, citric acid), advice and information on safer injecting. Needle exchange services often have contact with drug misusers who are not in touch with structured drug treatment services. We currently have 18 pharmacy needle exchanges
  • Advice and support on safer injection, reducing injecting and reducing initiation of others into injecting
  • A blood borne virus nurse who provides advice and information to prevent transmission of BBV viruses (Hepatitis B, C and HIV and any other drug misuse related infections), Hep B vaccinations and counselling relating to the treatment of BBV’s
  • Advice and support on preventing risk of overdose, including peer led awareness sessions
  • Risk assessment and referral to other treatment services.
  • Supervised consumption – all new clients have to undertake supervision of their medication for at least 6 weeks – 46 pharmacies currently operate this system
  • Early warning system – a communication network that shares information about any unusual incidents relating to drug use between relevant agencies
  • Confidential Inquiries into drug related deaths
  • Harm reduction information is available within all of the drug treatment agencies

For further information on Harm Reduction go to www.nta.nhs.uk  
and http://www.harmreductionworks.org.uk/index.html

For viewing Sandwell’s Harm Reduction Strategy go to http://www.sandwelldaat.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sandwell-harm-reduction-strategy-2006-08.pdf

For help and support for drug problems go to Help & Support.

Drug Related Litter

Discarded needles and syringes, if not handled appropriately, may cause serious health hazards to the community, including the spread of blood-borne viruses (e.g. HIV or Hepatitis). By taking action, you will have helped to improve the safety of the community (especially children), including your own family. For information on reporting & dealing with drug related litter see Drug Related Litter.