Syringe Exchange Schemes (Hansard, 22 May 1989)

§ Mr. Mellor

The evaluation points to some encouraging features of schemes, in particular the ability of some to attract significant numbers of injectors—many of whom have not been in contact with services before—and to help regular attenders make or sustain changes in risky behaviour. However, the research also shows that schemes have a high turnover of clients and are less good at attracting women, younger injectors and those with a short history of injecting drug misuse. They tend to attract those injectors who have already made, or are motivated to make changes in their behaviour.

We have concluded that exchange schemes and other measures to make sterile injecting equipment more readily available—such as, where appropriate, sales by pharmacists and provision by general practitioners in the context of treatment of drug misusers—can be potentially valuable components of the wider-ranging strategy we need to prevent the spread of HIV-infection amount and from 420W drug misusers. This strategy must also include the development of readily accessible advice and treatment services where drug misusers can get help with drug problems, and with reducing their risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV-infection through drug using or sexual behaviour. At the same time, we continue to attach the utmost importance to tackling the misuse of drugs itself, both by the interdiction of supplies and through effective education and information to discourage young people from starting to take drugs.

We have increased to over £14 million the funds available to health authorities from 1989–90 for services for drug misusers, including measures to prevent the spread of HIV-infection, in order that such a strategy may be implemented. In Scotland and in Wales £2 million and £1.6 million respectively are being provided for this purpose. We will circulate the key findings of this recent research in order that they may be taken into account in planning and developing services.