Needle Exchange Programme

Needle and syringe programmes are an important harm reduction intervention. In New Zealand they are commonly known as needle exchange programmes.

People who are injecting drugs can access needles, syringes and other equipment to support safe injecting practice and reduce risk of health related complications.

Needle exchanges also provide for the safe disposal of used needles and syringes.

We follow a harm reduction model based on empathy and a non-judgemental approach, working with people where they are at and however they understand their drug use. Injecting drug users frequently experience stigma and discrimination; this can often present a barrier to accessing services. As peers mainly staff our exchanges, we have an established credibility and trust within the community. Needle exchanges are therefore a safe space and an important source of information and advice.

Needle Exchange Service, Help & Advice

In addition to exchanging injection equipment, Needle Exchanges offer free help and advice to injecting drug users about health issues . You should bear in mind that advice or information given is not designed to replace that of health or legal professionals but is offered as a more user friendly, realistic and practical nature.

Whilst none of the needle exchanges offer treatment for addiction problems they are able to give an overview of services available in various regions of the country. We can also help people find assistance that is most appropriate to them, from a range of community based services, such as detoxification and methadone through to more intensive residential based services.

Rodger Wright Community Clinic

We are a FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and NON-JUDGEMENTAL service that provides Hepatitis C testing, advice, information, support, referrals and treatment. We offer hepatitis C treatment onsite which includes further screening, assessment and FibroScan (assesses liver stiffness) for those seeking treatment. People diagnosed with cirrhosis (severe liver scarring) are referred into specialist care at Christchurch Hospital.

As required, staff provide outreach to AOD and other mental health services within Christchurch city.

The Drug Injecting Services Canterbury (DISC) Trust is provider of the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme in the South Island. We operate five needle exchange outlets across the South Island (two in Christchurch and one each in Nelson, Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill) and a mobile service to the West Coast and Northland.

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-judgemental approach, working with people where they are at and however they understand their drug use.

We have an established credibility and trust within the community. We provide a safe space for people who inject drugs and are an important source of information and advice.

Staff

We are unique in as much as, all of the New Zealand Needle Exchanges are based on the concept of a peer service. This means that many of the staff and volunteers have either current or past lived experience of injecting drugs, which in turn allows you to access a service that has empathy and understanding from people who have often shared similar experiences.

Electronic Dispenser

The Rodger Wright Centre provides an Electronic Dispenser Machine (ED)

This is operational 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This is situated outside

our front door.

A 4 digit PIN number is needed to operate our electronic dispenser machine.

To get PIN number, persons over the age of 16yrs must come into

the Centre during opening hours and ask our friendly staff.

[code for Machine is the same as the old code]

24/7 used needle and syringe return chute enables you to return your used

equipment anytime of the day/night.The chute (hole in the wall) is situated

to the RIGHT of ED machine [in the blue wall].