Needle and syringe programs: snapshot study
We work with needle and syringe programs in Victoria to get a better picture of the latest trends.
The Victorian Needle and Syringe Program is a health initiative to reduce the spread of blood-borne disease. Sharing needles can lead to the spread of viruses like HIV and hepatitis B and C. Needle and syringe programs aim to address this. Across the state, these programs help people:
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access free and clean (sterile) needles and syringes
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dispose of used equipment that could spread disease.
Needle and syringe programs are an important method of harm reduction. We want to better understand how they're being used.
Our needle and syringe program (NSP) snapshot study is a coordinated system across Melbourne and Geelong. We partner with NSP sites across the state to survey their clients about their experiences. The survey data helps us understand how NSPs are used and identify local trends in services being provided.
Through the survey, our study aims to help NSPs:
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better understand local issues and client needs
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improve their services.
How the study works
We collect quarterly (3-month) snapshots of data from people who use needle and syringe program services (service users).
During the quarterly survey period, all clients of participating NSP services are invited to answer a short survey.
We then:
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analyse the data to determine their characteristics, experiences and needs
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compare data across different regions of Melbourne and Geelong
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look for emerging trends over time
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provide reports to services and other stakeholders.
We work with NSPs to develop our survey questions. This ensures that study findings are helpful to local service delivery and users.
Timeline
Since 2020.
Posters and reports
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Needle and syringe program poster July 2025
There were 524 participants in this round that answered the survey from Healthworks, St Kilda, Braybrook, Richmond and Barwon. To the statement "I can access everything I need to keep myself safe and healthy when I use drugs", 45% strongly agree, 34% agree, 7% are neutral, 9% disagree and 5% strongly disagree. When asked "What services did you have trouble getting?": 21% other drugs treatments (e.g. detox, rehab), 19% timely drug-related healthcare, 17% supervised consumption room, 12% drug checking, 9% needles and syringes, 5% take home naloxone, 38% something else. When asked "What are the most important things for you as someone who uses drugs? (Tick all that apply)": 20% being treated with respect, 18% not being criminalised for using drugs, 15% reliable access to the drugs I use, 15% being able to access harm reduction and/or treatment services, 10% access to safe and affordable housing, 8% daily cost of living, 8% being free from violence, 6% my family and friends.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster July 2025 [PDF 872.4 kB] -
Needle and syringe program poster August 2022
There were 1,431 service contacts in this round that answered the snapshots survey from Healthworks Footscray, Dandenong NSP, Frankston SHARPS, cohealth Braybrook, Health Ability Box Hill/CHOPER, North Richmond Community Health, Mobile Health Outreach Service and Access Health St Kilda. When asked whether they had attempted to start opioid agonist treatment (OAT) in the past 6 months: 58% (n=832) did not need OAT or said it wasn't relevant to them, 15% (n=214) were already on OAT for 6 or more months, 18% (n=257) had attempted to start OAT within the last 6 months, 8% (n=128) did not know or did not answer. The most common barriers to starting OAT were finding an OAT prescriber, prescriber or dispenser opening hours and prescription of preferred OAT medicine.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster August 2022 [PDF 1.4 MB] -
Needle and syringe program poster November 2021
There were 1,048 service contacts in this round that answered the Snapshots survey from Healthworks Footscray, Access Health St Kilda, cohealth Braybrook, Carrington Health Box Hill/CHOPER, Dandenong NSP, North Richmond Community Health and Frankston SHARPS. When asked whether they had received a COVID-19 vaccine, 66% (n=692/1048) have had 2 vaccine doses, 10% (n=103/1048) had one dose and intend to have the second, 1% (n=14/1048) had one dose and did not intend to have the second, 18% (n=191/1048) had not received a dose of the vaccine, 5% (n=48/1048) did not know or declined to answer.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster November 2021 [PDF 1.5 MB]
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Needle and syringe program poster July 2021
There were 477 service contacts who answered the survey from Healthworks Footscray, Dandenong NSP, Frankston SHARPS, cohealth Braybrook, Carrington Health Box Hill/CHOPER, North Richmond Community Health, Mobile Health Outreach Service, Foot Patrol CBD. 12% (n=51/431) reported experiencing contact with police, with very few clients (n=10) reporting this impacting their use of NSP services. 68% (n=266/421) of clients reported receiving government support payments, of which 47% of (n=123/264) clients reported having their payment reduced this year.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster July 2021 [PDF 546.4 kB] -
Needle and syringe program poster March 2021
There were 1,841 service contacts who answered the survey from Access Health St Kilda, North Richmond Community Health, cohealth Braybrook, Healthworks Footscray, Mobile health outreach service St Kilda and Carrington Health Box Hill/CHOPER. 1,252 clients responded to COVID-19 vaccine acceptability: 37% said "definitely yes" to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, 20% said "probably yes", 18% said "I'm not sure yet", 10% said "probably not", 16% said "definitely not". Among those reporting that they would “probably not” or “definitely not”(n=317) have the vaccine, the most common reasons were: 156 (48%) Vaccine safety concerns, 36 (11%) unnecessary as COVID-19 is not serious for most people, 33 (10%) believe COVID-19 is not real. 1,164 clients responded to questions about emergency accommodation support due to sleeping rough. 173 (15%) received emergency housing, with 63 clients receiving ongoing support under that scheme.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster March 2021 [PDF 1.2 MB] -
Needle and syringe program poster September 2020
There were 1,034 service contacts who answered the survey from Access Health St Kilda, Carrington Health Box Hill/CHOPER, North Richmond Community Health, cohealth Braybrook and Healthworks Footscray. Since stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions began, 44% of contacts reported their drug use remained stable. For 11% use decreased a lot, and for 20% use decreased a little. For 16% use increased a little and for 8% use increased a lot. 24% (range: 19-44%) of contacts had experienced interactions with police.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster September 2020 [PDF 558.7 kB] -
Needle and syringe program poster June 2020
There were 612 service contacts who answered the survey from across Access Health St Kilda, Carrington Health Box Hill, North Richmond Community Health, cohealth Braybrook and Healthworks Footscray. Since COVID-19 began, 4% think drugs are easier to access, 28% think drugs are a little harder to access, 12% think drugs are much harder to access and 56% think access has stayed the same. 23% (range: 9–48%) of contacts had been tested for COVID-19. 12% (range: 0-32%) had difficult accessing healthcare due to COVID-19, if they tried.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster June 2020 [PDF 418.7 kB] -
Needle and syringe program poster February 2020
There were 59 service contacts who answered the survey at Healthworks Footscray and 657 service contacts at Access Health St Kilda, we found that 12% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Isander; 15% identify as LGBTQIA+, and 38% had at least one parent born overseas. In Footscray, we found that the last drug injected was 70% heroin, 25% meth/amphetamines, 2% PIEDs, 2% pharmaceuticals and 2% other. In St Kilda, we found that the last drug injected was 54% heroin, 37% meth/amphetamines, 4% PIEDs, 3% pharmaceuticals and 2% other.
NSP Snapshot Study Poster February 2020 [PDF 471.0 kB]
Partners
Collaborators
- Salvation Army: Access Health
- Barwon Health
- Better Health Network
- cohealth
- Health Ability
- Harm Reduction Victoria
- Monash Health
- North Richmond Community Health
- Peninsula Health
- Youth Projects
Project contacts
Project team
Ashleigh Stewart
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Michael Curtis
Postdoctoral Research Officer
Professor Paul Dietze
Program Director, Disease Elimination; Professor and Program Leader, National Drug Research Institute (NDRI)
