The controversial axing of a trusted Dunedin needle-exchange service has led to a rise in needle reuse in the city\u2019s drug community, a new report has found.<\/p>\n
University of Otago research fellow Dr Geoff Noller\u2019s report assesses the needle exchange\u2019s performance since the service was officially taken over by the South Island-wide health collective Te Waipounamu in October.<\/p>\n
It previously had been held by the DISC Trust \u2014 at the time of the handover, the\u00a0Otago Daily Times\u00a0reported a lot of \u2018\u2018confusion\u2019\u2019, although many of DISC\u2019s workers secured positions with the new provider.<\/p>\n
Dr Noller\u2019s report, released late last month, outlines many of the issues with the handover.<\/p>\n
Among the issues raised by clientele were the fact the new provider did not initially supply enough equipment to meet the demand. One client interviewed said \u2018\u2018nearly everyone is reusing at the moment\u2019\u2019, while another said entering the new premises was \u2018\u2018like doing a walk of shame\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
Other clients questioned the new provider\u2019s experience in working with people who inject drugs. Of the people surveyed, nearly half said they were using again and sharing equipment.<\/p>\n
Many were not comfortable with the new premises having an \u2018\u2018overriding focus on abstinence, which is not consistent with a client-centred harm reduction model\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018There are clear clinical implications for the increase in risk behaviours \u2014 especially increased reuse and sharing \u2014 that has accompanied the change in provider,\u2019\u2019 Dr Noller\u2019s report said.<\/p>\n
Dr Noller told the\u00a0ODT\u00a0yesterday the fact people still visited the DISC trust\u2019s premises for needle issues, despite the fact the trust no longer had the contract in Dunedin, put everyone in a difficult position and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) needed to intervene.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018If there is a service or an organisation that is involving itself in that work, then it seems reasonably obvious that that service, if it\u2019s a reliable service, and DISC has shown to be so for over 30 years, it should have the opportunity to be an alternative provider.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It may not be a needle exchange as such, but if it\u2019s an alternative provider it has permission to provide free, clean, sterile injecting equipment to people who want to use it.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Pharmacies provide equipment, of course, but they\u2019re not alternative providers, they are pharmacies.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Many of those still visiting DISC\u2019s premises in Dunedin and Christchurch were \u2018\u2018in a very difficult financial situation and they can\u2019t afford to pay for anything\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018So there were all those tensions coming up, and for those reasons, DISC tried to help … even though they weren\u2019t official needle exchange sites.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
DISC executive director Philippa Jones said the report \u2018\u2018confirms and quantifies what we see and hear from clients all around the South Island\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We are very concerned about sharing and reusing injecting equipment as this creates a very serious personal and public health risk.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Many of our clients are continuing to access injecting equipment from us (which we fund from our reserves), along with our other harm reduction services such as drug checking and hepatitis C and HIV screening.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
She confirmed DISC had applied to become a needle exchange \u2018\u2018alternative provider\u2019\u2019, which would enable the organisation to provide equipment free of charge to clients.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018This typically has been a straightforward process. However, we have been advised all current applications are on hold.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We believe that Dr Noller\u2019s report is compelling evidence in support of our application and we look forward to receiving a positive outcome very soon.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
When approached about the report, Te Waipounamu deferred all media inquiries to HNZ.<\/p>\n
Health New Zealand director for Starting Well Deborah Woodley said it was \u2018\u2018mindful that inaccurate or incomplete information about the new provider affects confidence in the service\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We are exploring ways to counter misinformation, and build awareness of the service, ways to access free injecting equipment, and harm reduction advice and support.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The contract had been previously held by the DISC Trust and some of the staff moved over to the new service.<\/p>\n
However, DISC has reported clientelle still using their services, and they have applied with HNZ to be an alternative provider in order to help with the situation.<\/p>\n
Ms Woodley \u00a0did not mention this application in her response.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The new site in Dunedin is less than 5 minutes\u2019 walk from the old site, and in addition the new provider continues to support DISC with equipment for their vending machine in Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018He Waka Tapu (the Canterbury lead provider) will be opening a new fixed site in mid-2026 within the city centre and this will help improve access for people who inject drugs.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The new provider in the South Island has been in place since October 2025.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The first monitoring report from Te Waipounamu Collective (covering period November 1 to December 31, 2025) shows close to 210,000 needles being distributed, 400 unique individuals have accessed the service since opening on 1 October 2025 – a third of whom identify as M\u0101ori,\u2019\u2019 Ms Woodley said. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Health New Zealand does not have concerns that the new service will lead to an increase needle sharing\/reuse in blood-borne diseases or needle-use injuries among people who inject drugs but will continue to monitor the situation closely.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Nor does Health NZ have any concerns that Te Waipounmau Collective offer a range of health services, including abstinence programmes.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
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