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Needle and syringe distribution trends in W estern A ustralia, 1990 to 2009
Author(s) -
Lilley Georgiana,
Mak Donna B,
Fredericks Trinity
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00510.x
Subject(s) - syringe , pharmacy , metropolitan area , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , legislature , distribution (mathematics) , business , family medicine , geography , mathematical analysis , mathematics , archaeology , pathology , psychiatry
and Aims To describe needle and syringe distribution trends of needle and syringe programs ( NSP ) between 1990 and 2009 in W estern A ustralia, and explore contributing factors within the national and state strategic and legislative environment. Design and Methods The number of needles and syringes distributed by each of the four NSP types [needle and syringe exchange program ( NSEP ); health service; pharmacy; vending machine] between 1990 and 2009 were stratified by time period and geographic location using M icrosoft E xcel. Results Total needle and syringe distribution over the 20‐year period increased by eight‐fold. Regional areas experienced the highest growth: 20‐fold increase compared with seven‐fold increase in metropolitan areas. The proportion of needles and syringes distributed through NSEP s increased from 33% to 62% between 1990 and 2009, and through health services increased from 3% to 8% between 1994 and 2009. The proportion distributed through pharmacies decreased from 67% to 28% between 1990 and 2009, and through vending machines from 7% to 1.3% between 1992 and 2009. National and state HIV and hepatitis C strategies guided NSP provision at an early stage, and expedited legislative amendments to allow for the operation of approved NSP s. Discussion and Conclusions The majority of growth occurred through the NSEP s and health service NSP s, which are publicly funded NSP s and provide injecting equipment either on ‘exchange’ or free‐of‐charge respectively. The H ealth D epartment of W estern A ustralia recognises the increasing reliance on publicly funded NSP s and the need to continue this cost‐effective public health program.