Northern Ireland needle and syringe exchange scheme (NSES)

Needle exchange schemes are a service for injecting drug users, targeted as a harm reduction measure to limit the spread of blood borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. The Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Scheme (NSES) was initiated in five community pharmacies in 2001. At the 31 March 2007 there were nine pharmacies offering needle exchange.

The following information is collected in an anonymised form: the number of visits by clients undertaking a NSES transaction; the number of needles and syringes used; returns of used equipment; age and gender of the client.

Originally, data was collated by the Drug and Alcohol Strategy Team (DAST). However, from January 2003, this function has been performed by the Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (DAIRU), within the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Number of visits to pharmacies for needle and syringe exchange, 2001-2007

	Year
	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07
April - June	838	1,631	1,826	1,863	2,072	2,594
July - September	1,278	1,310	1,990	1,916	2,302	2,417
October - December	1,508	1,684	1,796	1,799	2,187	2,581
January - March	1,589	1,418	1,896	1,862	2,236	2,405
Total	5,213	6,043	7,508	7,440	8,797	9,997

Number of visits by Health and Social Services Board (HSSB) area, 2002-2007

HSSB area	Year
	2002/03		2003/04		2004/05		2005/06		2006/07
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Eastern HSSB	2,773	45.9	3,461	46.1	2,839	38.2	2,936	33.4	3,427	34.3
Northern HSSB	2,767	45.8	3,377	45.0	3,883	52.2	5,082	57.8	5,668	56.7
Southern HSSB	13	0.2	18	0.3	12	0.2	18	0.2	26	0.3
Western HSSB	490	8.1	651	8.7	706	9.5	761	8.7	876	8.8
Total	6,043		7,508		7,440		8,797		9,997

Number of visits by gender and age, 2002-2007

Age of male	Year
Age of male	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07
21 and under	115	151	239	359	366
22-25 years	1,036	1,187	1,086	1,153	1,214
26-30 years	1,723	1,892	1,794	2,207	2,219
31-35 years	1,184	1,893	2,361	2,766	2,862
36-40 years	451	490	672	746	1,072
41 years and over	492	570	488	395	579
Total	5,001	6,183	6,640	7,626	8,312

Age of female	Year
Age of female	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07
21 and under	18	26	9	15	50
22-25 years	218	209	56	122	169
26-30 years	195	399	243	415	593
31-35 years	328	331	252	404	471
36-40 years	69	36	50	91	100
41 years and over	124	308	181	97	194
Total	952	1,309	791	1,144	1,577

Numbers of needles and syringes issued, 2001-2007

Year	Syringes	Needles^{^}
2006/07	97,684	47,400
2005/06	85,801	65,111
2004/05	86,056	79,489
2003/04	82,731	82,589
2002/03	67,516	66,266
2001/02*	67,989	10,712

^{^}In 2006/07 the number of needles issued does not include those attached to 0.5ml and 1ml syringes, where this was the case in some pharmacies in 2005/06.
* The figures under 'syringes supplied' include the number of syringes issued in pre-packed containers (also containing standard size needles) and any additional syringes issued separately to these. The figures shown under 'needles supplied' are needles in addition to the standard packs.

Numbers of visits involving the return of used equipment, 2001-2007

Quarter	Year
	2001/02		2002/03		2003/04		2004/05		2005/06		2006/07
	Number of exchanges	Number of return visits	Number of exchanges	Number of return visits	Number of exchanges	Number of return visits	Number of exchanges	Number of return visits	Number of exchanges	Number of return visits	Number of exchanges	Number of return visits
April - June	1,838	521	1,631	989	1,826	1,121	1,863	1,052	2,072	960	2,594	1,090
July - September	1,278	848	1,310	766	1,990	181	1,916	1,039	2,302	968	2,417	920
October - December	1,508	1,017	1,684	1,045	1,796	1,082	1,799	1,043	2,187	940	2,581	994
January - March	1,589	1,121	1,418	873	1,896	1,059	1,862	876	2,236	1,004	2,405	948
Total	5,213	3,507	6,043	3,673	7,508	4,450	7,440	4,010	8,797	3,872	9,997	3,952
Total average %		67		61		59		54		44		40

Statistical bulletins from the NSES can be obtained from DAIRU or at
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-pubs.htm
Comments or queries regarding the data contained in these publications should be addressed to DAIRU.

References

Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (DAIRU). Statistics from the Northern Ireland needle and syringe exchange scheme: 1 April 2006 - 31 March 2007. Statistical bulletin. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2007. Available at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/nses_annual_bulletin_2006-07.pdf accessed 29 October 2007.

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