Needle exchange

Needle exchange programme is an important type of low-threshold programmes and harm reduction. Needle exchange for intravenous drug users is a public health prevention intervention, which direct purpose is to prevent complications of this type of drug usage, on longer term to achieve client's abstinence after/during his treatment.

Needle exchange is recognized (also existing in Hungary ) and world wide option of harm reduction.

As HIV/AIDS problem became known, the approach to answer social, economical and health risks of problematic drug use with pragmatic and public health focused solutions showed up. The most likely complications of intravenous drug use can be blood-transmitted infections (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C), and surgery and dermatology-related problems caused by not proper needle usage.

Needle exchange programme is a complex service: beside they give and change sterile needles and syringe for problematic and addict intravenous drug users, they also try to direct clients to the proper treatment service. In addition, they offer lifestyle and legal counseling, health check , information, individual case care and help in official administration.

These programmes have dual aims: they help to make intravenous drug usage safer, to reduce the risks of blood-transmitted infections and they also collect dropped needles and syringes. Programmes can be carried out in different ways: permanent service on the same spot, needle machine, outreach service, mobile needle exchange and service in pharmacy.

Currently there are 4 permanent services – organized by three providers – in Budapest , and further 7 in rural areas. Mobile service is insured by one provider in Budapest and in other cities (Debrecen, Kecskemét, Miskolc, Pécs, Szeged, Veszprém) there are drop in programmes with permanent locations. Needle exchange machines have been working since 2003 in Hungary , currently 4 are functioning (in these cases used needles can be also returned). Machines (as street/outreach services) are working on the most affected part of the cities.

National Institute for Drug Prevention operates such machines since 2003. The first machine in Hungary is working on the territory of Nyíro Gyula Hospital of Municipality of Budapest and maintained by the NDI from the beginning. In Miskolc , in the area of Health Centre of Miskolc machine has been working since 2004, this is maintained by NDI in cooperation with Drug Ambulance Foundation. Beside these two, there are exchange machines in Gyula (Drug Ambulance of Pándy Kálmán Hospital) and in Pécs (INDIT Foundation).