About Needle Exchange Programs

Following a trial in 1987, needle exchanges began in the UK in 1988. Their purpose was to reduce deaths caused by infections in the IDU drug community that were mainly caused through the sharing of old dirty paraphernalia (needles and syringes). Back then, very little education on harm reduction, using techniques or help with general health issues was available.The exchanges were just a means of exchanging clean paraphernalia for old paraphernalia.
Slowly, as exchanges learned about the needs of their clients, ex-users started to get involved and the policies evolved to be more in tune with real benefits for the clients.