About Us
Drug Injecting Services in Canterbury Trust (DISC) is Aotearoa’s leading harm reduction service delivering the broadest range of services in the country.
We work to enhance the health and well-being of people who inject and use drugs by providing world leading harm reduction practice.
DISC is one of three providers of the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme. We operate seven needle exchanges across Te Waipounamu (two in Ōtautahi Christchurch) and one each in Whakatu Nelson, Hakatere Ashburton, Timaru, Ōtepoti Dunedin and Murihiku Invercargill and a mobile service in Te Tai Poutini West Coast, two health services (Ōtautahi Christchurch and Ōtepoti Dunedin), static and mobile hepatitis C screening and treatment in Te Waipounamu and Te Tai Tokerau Northland and a national drug checking service in Ōtepoti Dunedin , Ōtautahi Christchurch and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington.
We also deliver the national pharmacy needle exchange programme covering 200 pharmacies across Aotearoa, alongside hauora Māori services and other community-based providers.
We advocate for the interests of people who inject and use drugs, working to remove the stigma of drug use, and build harm reduction knowledge and understanding in our sector and communities. We strive to partner with a range of organisations, across different sectors, to support our work, either to co-deliver services, conduct research, or to reach isolated communities.
We are a peer-based organisation, committed to a health and human rights-based service approach for people who use drugs. We follow a harm reduction model based on empathy and non-judgment, working with people where they are at and however, they understand their drug use.
We have an established credibility and trust within our community. We provide a safe space for people who inject and use drugs and are an important source of information and advice.
Staff
We are unique. We are a peer-based community led organisation. Many of our staff and volunteers have either current or lived experience of injecting drugs. Not only does this mean our services are delivered with empathy and understanding from people who have shared experiences, it also provides opportunity for the community to get involved in a service that means something to them and will benefit others.
One of DISCs locations is the Rodger Wright Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch; a significant facility dedicated to providing harm reduction advice and support. It operates a needle exchange, drug checking and health services providing vital resources to people who use drugs.
History and Background
The Rodger Wright Centre is named in honour of Rodger Wright, a well-known figure in the harm reduction community in New Zealand. Wright was a passionate advocate for the rights and health of people who use drugs and was instrumental in establishing harm reduction services in the country. He was an active member of the National Council on AIDS, where he voiced the concerns of people who injected drugs. At a time when it took exceptional courage to do so he declared himself to be HIV positive, an injecting drug user and a homosexual. Rodger died in 1993.
The Centre's origins can be traced back to the early days of New Zealand's needle exchange program, which was established in 1988. This program was one of the first of its kind in the world and was created in response to the growing concern over the spread of HIV/AIDS among people who inject drugs. The goal was to reduce the harm associated with drug use by providing access to clean needles and syringes, along with education on safe injecting practices.
The Rodger Wright Centre became a cornerstone of these efforts in Christchurch, offering not only needle exchange services but also support, education, and advocacy for people who use drugs. Over the years, the Centre has expanded its services to include hepatitis C screening and treatment, overdose prevention, drug checking and referrals to other health and social services.
The Centre's Role in the Community
The Rodger Wright Centre plays a crucial role in the Christchurch community, particularly in the context of harm reduction. It is a safe and non-judgmental space where individuals can access the resources they need to reduce the risks associated with drug use. The Centre's staff are trained to provide compassionate care, respecting the dignity and autonomy of every person who walks through the door.
In addition to its core services, the Centre is also involved in advocacy and education efforts, working to raise awareness about harm reduction and the importance of supporting people who use drugs. This work is critical in reducing stigma and promoting public health.
Legacy and Impact
The legacy of the Rodger Wright Centre is deeply tied to the broader harm reduction movement in New Zealand. It stands as a testament to the power of compassionate care and the belief that every person deserves access to health services, regardless of their circumstances. The Centre continues to be a vital resource for the Christchurch community, helping to improve the health and well-being of individuals who use drugs and contributing to the overall public health of the region.
Through its ongoing work, the Rodger Wright Centre honours the memory of Rodger Wright and his commitment to harm reduction, ensuring that his vision for a more compassionate and supportive society lives on.
About our service
- We provide 30,000 client engagements every year
- We serve an estimated 5,000-7,000 whai ora throughout Te Waipounamu
- The estimated number of whai ora across Aotearoa is between 12,000-18,000
- Of our whai ora, it is estimated that up to 23% are Māori
- 40% of all needles distributed throughout Aotearoa are distributed by DISC Trust
- People who inject drugs are five times more likely to seek treatment and rehabilitation if they are using a needle and syringe programme.
Cost Benefit
- In 2021, the national needle exchange programme cost $5.88 million to run and provided estimated benefits of $39.9 million through reducing the burden and its associated costs on the NZ health system. Those estimated benefits are the costs associated with HIV, hepatitis B and C infection, and injection-related injuries, if the service wasn’t available.
- This equates to $6.79 in benefits (including prevented future costs) for our public health system from every dollar spent on the programme.