New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme Te Waipounamu / DISC
Description
The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme is a nationwide programme supporting people who inject drugs by providing access to needles, syringes and other harm reduction equipment, as well as harm reduction advice, information and education to support safe injecting practice, safer drug use and improving the health and wellbeing of people who inject drugs.
The Needle Exchange Programme is funded by Te Whatu Ora and provided by a number of regional trusts across the country. The programme consists of 21 dedicated outlets (including one mobile outlet) and is supported by around 200 participating pharmacies and alternative outlets.
As a programme, we are committed to upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and to achieving equitable outcomes for our clients.
DISC TRUST:
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.
Programme
Charges
No fees apply