Harm Reduction Advice

There are injecting populations in every part of Scotland, including our rural and remote communities. Local authorities, Health Boards and Community Health (and Care) Partnerships have a duty to respond to the needs of these populations, not only to reduce the significant risks of injecting to injectors themselves, but also to prevent the transmission of HCV and other BBVs within the general population.

In Fife you can obtain Injecting equipment in two ways:

·  From Community Pharmacies across Fife

·  From the Specialist Harm Reduction Service

The Harm Reduction Programme promotes health protection for injecting drug users and helps to reduce the risk of passing on infections to others. However, needle exchange is not just for people who inject Heroin. The service is also for those who use or are about to start using:

·  Steroids or other performance or image enhancing drugs (PIEDs)

·  Other psychoactive compounds, chemicals, plants or medicines.

Harm reduction is our primary, frontline response to reducing the potential harms associated with active drug use, particularly injecting drug use, including: BBVs, overdose, bacterial infections, etc.

Harm reduction services, such as needle and syringe exchanges, play a part in referring people to appropriate drug treatment programs and linking them with other health and social services.

Pharmacy Needle Exchanges

Can issue basic needle and syringe packs and accept used needles and syringes. Community Pharmacies also offer a range of other services.

Addaction Fife Specialist Harm Reduction Service

Offers a wider range of equipment than the above pharmacy based exchanges and also offers a range of other services to help reduce drug related harm including:

·  1:1 assessment, referral and support into treatment (only if requested)

·  Overdose prevention work including access to The Take Home Naloxone programme (THN).

·  Blood borne virus testing for HIV and Hepatitis

Needle exchange staff can provide advice & information on issues related to substance use. Simply let us know what you’re using and we will ensure that you get the right equipment. We will also be happy to discuss your injecting practice and any concerns or questions you may have in relation to it.

Some basic and anonymous details will be asked for on the first visit. There will be an expectation for you to use the same information at every exchange.

Addaction operates from a number of venues in Fife and also operates a Mobile Outreach unit – see full details on document available for download.

Safer Injecting Advice:

To avoid the health risks associated with taking drugs, it is safer not to inject or to use alternative methods of taking drugs. However, some people are not in this position so the following advice is important:

·  We strongly advise all injectors to seek professional advice throughout the time you are injecting.

·  In-depth safer injecting and harm reduction information and advice is available from all Addaction sites

·  Wash your hands before preparing works.

·  Always use a new, sterile needle and equipment.

·  Never share any equipment or works.

·  Find a hygienic area to prepare.

·  Cleanse the part of your body where you are going to inject.

For more information:

Addaction Fife

T: 01592 619090

E:

Location / Service / Time
Monday
Methil / Sailors Rest, 230 High Street, Lower Methil, KY8 3EF / Drop in / 1.00pm-3.00pm
Dunfermline / 24 Canmore Street, Dunfermline, KY12 7NT / Drop in / 10.00am-12.00pm & 1.30pm-4.30pm
Tuesday
Glenrothes / 8 Hanover Court, Glenrothes / Drop in / 1.00pm-3.00pm
Crosshill / Crosshill Community Centre, Inchgall Ave, KY5 8AX / Mobile Unit / 12.30pm-1.30pm
Ballingry / Bus Turning Circle, Ballingry Road / Mobile Unit / 2.00pm-2.45pm
Lochgelly / Lochgelly Health Centre, David Street / Mobile Unit / 3.00pm-4.00pm
Wednesday
Methil / Sailors Rest, 230 High Street, Lower Methil, KY8 3EF / Drop in / 1.00pm-3.00pm
Dunfermline / 24 Canmore Street, Dunfermline, KY12 7NT / Drop in / 10.00am-12.00pm & 1.30pm-4.30pm
Thursday
Glenrothes / 8 Hanover Court, Glenrothes / Drop in / 1.00pm-3.00pm
Kirkcaldy / Stocks Car Park, Links Street, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1SG / Mobile Unit / 1.00pm-2.00pm
Kirkcaldy / Alford Avenue by Templehall Local Office / Mobile Unit / 2.15pm-3.00pm
Kirkcaldy / St Clair Street behind St Clair Pharmacy, KY2 6QL / Mobile Unit / 3.30pm-4.15pm
Friday
Methil / Sailors Rest, 230 High Street, Lower Methil, KY8 3EF / Drop in / 1.00pm-3.00pm
Dunfermline / 24 Canmore Street, Dunfermline, KY12 7NT / Drop in / 10.00am-12.00pm & 1.30pm-4.30pm