Harm Reduction Services for people who use drugs
Previously called Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Service (NSES) now renamed to Harm Reduction Services for people who use drugs.
PHA commission two key harm reduction services for people who inject drugs. These are:
- Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Service (NSES)
- Take Home Naloxone Programme (THN)
NSES is a free, anonymous and confidential service for people who inject opioids, steroids, tanning solution or stimulants. This is an evidence-based, public health initiative which aims to reduce the spread of blood borne viruses, reduce needle discards and engage people who inject drugs in harm reduction conversations. The service offers a wide range of sterile injecting equipment in exchange of the safe disposal of used injecting equipment.
The Take Home Naloxone programme has become an integral part of most NSES sites and aims to supply naloxone packs to those at risk of opioid overdose, their families and professionals. Naloxone temporarily and rapidly reverses the effects of an overdose. The naloxone products currently available in the THN programme are:
- Prenoxad® 2mg/2ml pre-filled syringe for intramuscular injection
- Nyxoid® 1.8mg nasal naloxone spray x 2 doses
- Pebble® 1.26mg intra-nasal spray x 2 doses
Key resources:
NSES and THN providers across Northern Ireland
NSP Direct - order injecting equipment and naloxone online
NSP Direct is n ow available across Northern Ireland and can be accessed using any postcode. This is a free, confidential service which discreetly delivers injecting equipment and naloxone directly to your door. Access to this is at https://www.exchangesupplies.org/nspdirect
Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Service (NSES) Scheme and Providers
The leaflet provides a detailed overview of how the scheme operates and includes contact details for all participating pharmacies and other providers involved in the Needle and Syringe Exchange Service scheme and providers across Northern Ireland.
Take Home Naloxone Programme (THN)
The leaflet provides a detailed overview of how the scheme operates and includes contact details for all participating pharmacies and other providers across Northern Ireland.
At risk of overdose? Naloxone saves lives
Naloxone contact details NI.pdf
Additional resources (services, suppliers, training)
Suppliers
- Exchange Supplies
Our current supplier for all NSES and THN equipment is Exchange Supplies. For additional information on the equipment, training or harm reduction literature please visit Needles | Syringes | Swabs | Other injecting equipment
Drug treatment services
- Further information on Community Addiction Teams, Low Threshold Services and other PHA drug treatment services can be found on https://www.drugsandalcoholni.info
PHA Support
- Any queries regarding either the Needle and Syringe Exchange Service or the Take Home Naloxone Service should be directed to adele.dunn@hscni.net
Training
- PHA offer an annual Harm Reduction Training calendar for both NSES and THN practitioners and Naloxone Administration Courses for members of the public. If you would like the most up-to-date calendar please email harmreduction@hscni.net
- Further harm reduction training is also available at e-learning from Exchange Supplies
Northern Ireland NSES and THN Quarterly Reports
Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Service (NSES) and Take Home Naloxone (THN) Quarterly Reports
Following the implementation of the Harm Reduction Information System for Northern Ireland, Neo360 in December 2022 PHA publishes quarterly activity reports on harm reduction services.
The quarterly reports summarise the regional NSES and THN activity alongside anonymous, non-identifiable client data across Northern Ireland.
Click here to access the latest NSES and THN quarterly report and its archive.
Northern Ireland NSES and THN Annual Reports
Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Service (NSES) and Take Home Naloxone (THN) Annual Reports
PHA publishes annual reports on the commissioned harm reduction services based on the information collated on the Harm Reduction Information System for Northern Ireland, Neo360 which records non-identifiable, anonymous client data at each transaction within both NSES and THN.
Click here to access the latest NSES and THN Report (reporting of both services amalgamated from 2024/2025)
Conferences
Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Service Conference: Enhancing Needle Exchange
Wednesday 2nd October 2024 | 9.30am – 4.00pm
Dunsilly Hotel, 20 Dunsilly Road, Antrim BT41 2JH
More details here NSES conference 2024 agenda
Click here for free registration: https://tinyurl.com/NSESC24
Highlights from the conference:
The Needle and Syringe Exchange Service Conference, took place last week at Dunsilly Hotel County Antrim and received excellent feedback.
The conference was organised by Adele Dunn, Regional Lead for Needle and Syringe Exchange Services (NSES) and Elaine Orr, Business Support at the PHA.
Over 120 people attended the conference, they included people from the community and voluntary sector, community pharmacy, health care staff, charities working within harm reduction, public health consultants, students and health and social care management staff.
The theme of the conference was ‘Enhanced Needle Exchange’ and each speaker outlined how needle exchange can take a more holistic approach to include other services for example wound care, blood borne virus testing and the Take Home Naloxone Programme.
Speakers included Andrew Preston from Exchange Supplies who has been working in harm reduction for over 30 years. His presentation was entitled ‘Hepatitis C and HIV - two very different epidemics’.
Andrew said: “Needle and syringe supply has been a huge public health success, but we must never forget that a HIV epidemic has been averted, not prevented.
If needle exchange falters or disappears, or if HIV prevalence rises, an epidemic could still quickly spread among people who inject, and then among the general population through sexual transmission.”
Dr Jenny Scott, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, University of Bristol, is an academic pharmacist, whose research is focused on developing harm reduction interventions.
Jenny’s presentation looked at provision of needle exchange in the pharmacy setting.
Jenny recalled a famous quote from Maya Angelou: “ ‘I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’
Jenny added: “I believe, how you make someone feel is key to them getting the support and advice they need. It’s important to build trust and respect.
“Engaging with people who may not have any other interaction or access to health care services is vital, we have make every interaction count. We cannot underestimate the role of community pharmacy in this work.”
Slides from the conference are available on request. Please email Elaine.orr@hscni.net
Photo captions:
Pic 1
Speakers and presenters
L-R Adele Dunn, Regional Lead NSES at PHA, Andrew Preston, Exchange Supplies, Janette Cochrane, Tissue Viability Nurse (TVN), Dr Jeannie Donnelly Lead Nurse, TVN at BHSCT, John Campbell NHS Glasgow and Clyde, Lynn Jeffries Director of Operations, European Network of People who use drugs (EuroNPUD)
Dr Jenny Scott, Pharmacy, University of Bristol,Stephanie Hanlon, Co-Regional Lead Drugs and Alcohol at PHA
Pic 2 – Andrew Preston- Exchange Supplies
Pic 3 – Lynn Jeffries - Director of Operations, European Network of People who use drugs (EuroNPUD)
Pic 4 - Jessica Murray – Engagement and Involvement Lead at PHA
To view the full list of speakers and programme visit pha.site/NSESConf24
