RESOURCES FOR MOB
Healthy Blood Healthy Body has developed a new campaign - Keep Your Blood Healthy to Keep Your Body Healthy for people who inject drugs and their communities. More information on the campaign is coming soon,
​This page provides information on where to access new equipment, understanding the importance of safe injecting practices, and finding the right support for you and/or your loved ones. Find out more about how to stay safe below.
On this page
What is safe injecting and why is it important?
Where do I get new needles and injecting equipment in Boorloo/Perth?
How do I get rid of my used injecting equipment safely?
NSPs and NSEPs in Boorloo/Perth
What is safe injecting and why is it important?
LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF
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Using new needles and other equipment keeps your blood healthy.
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Used equipment can carry infections in the blood (like HIV and hepatitis), that can be passed between people, so it is important not to use other people's injecting equipment.
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Used, damaged, or shared needles increase the risk of infection, which may lead to abscesses and sepsis (blood poisoning).
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Re-using needles makes them blunt. This leaves scars on your skin and can damage your veins, making it harder to inject.
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LOOKING AFTER EACH OTHER
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It is important not to share needles or injecting equipment with others to avoid spreading infections.
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If you can, find a local service where you can exchange your used needles for new injecting equipment.
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Ensure you dispose of your used needles carefully to prevent needlestick injuries.
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SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY
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Using new equipment will keep you safe and also help to reduce the risk of spreading infections in your community.
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Disposing of used injecting equipment safely will help to prevent injuries, including to children and community workers.
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Accessing local harm reduction services helps to reduce stigma about injecting drugs in the community.
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Looking after your health and injecting safely helps you stay connected with your community and support others who may need help.
Where do I get new needles and injecting equipment in Boorloo/Perth?
If you or someone you care about injects drugs, there are several resources available in Boorloo/Perth.
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Needle and syringe programs (NSPs) and needle and syringe exchange programs (NSEPs) offer a range of confidential and judgement-free services to people who inject drugs. Services may either be provided at a fixed site (like at an agency's office or a hospital) or a mobile site (like where a van visits a particular location once a week).
NSPs provide injecting equipment, usually in the form of fitpacks. They may also provide safe injecting education and referrals to information and other support services.
Through NSEPs, people who inject drugs can access new equipment and return their used injecting equipment for new, sterile supplies. NSEPs also offer services to dispose of used injecting equipment along with safe injecting education and referrals to information and other support services.
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Learn more here: Needle and Syringe Programs in WA
How do I get rid of my used injecting equipment safely?
If you inject drugs in Boorloo/Perth, you can safely dispose of your needles and syringes by:
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Returning them to a needle and syringe exchange program (NSEP) in return for new injecting equipment. These services can provide you with sharps containers to collect and return used equipment safely.
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Depositing them in a needle and syringe disposal unit provided by various local governments or businesses in the community.
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Placing them in a rigid-walled, puncture resistant, plastic container, with a screw top lid (not glass, aluminium, or frosted plastic) and depositing them in a general waste bin. Find out what that looks like here.
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Don’t dispose of loose needles and syringes directly into green waste collection bins, recycling bins, drains or toilets, or post boxes.
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Learn more here: Safe Disposal of Needles and Syringes
NSPs and NSEPs in Boorloo/Perth
Below you can find out more about services that you can use in Boorloo/Perth. Click on the links to visit their website and find out where their services operate.
Peer Based Harm Reduction WA
Peer Based Harm Reduction WA (PBHRWA) operates a Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) providing one-for-one exchange or for low cost.
Services are located at:
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2 fixed sites - Perth and Bunbury.
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3 mobile van sites - Margaret River, Busselton, and Manjimup
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Via discreet outreach (home visits) anywhere in the Perth metro or South West region.
WAAC (formerly WA AIDS Council)
The WAAC Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) provides services to people who inject drugs across Perth via one-to-one exchange or for low cost.
Services are located at:
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2 fixed sites - West Perth and Fremantle.
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7 mobile van sites - Rockingham, Mirrabooka, Joondalup, Belmont, Midland, Armadale, and Gosnells.
Other NSP locations
Click on the WA NSP Directory link below to see all of the NSP locations:
https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/U_Z/Where-to-find-needle-and-syringe-programs-in-WA
Accessing equipment at pharmacies
Needle and syringe packs (also called fit packs) can be purchased at many pharmacies throughout Boorloo/Perth. Pharmacies do not accept exchanges or disposal of used injecting equipment.
Useful links
ACE Access, Care & Empowerment App
A free and confidential app used to locate health services and access harm reduction information.
Download:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ace-access-care-empowerment/id1543648643
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Wungening Aboriginal Corporation
Wungening provides Alcohol and Other Drugs Support for any individual who is experiencing issues with alcohol and/or other drugs impacting their health and wellbeing as well as any individual worried about the wellbeing of somebody they care about being impacted by alcohol and/or drugs.
Contact:
https://www.wungening.com.au/Pages/FAQs/Category/contact-our-hubs
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A statewide confidential, non-judgemental, support line for anyone in Western Australia concerned about their own, or another person’s, mental health, alcohol and/or other drug-related challenges.
Contact:
1800 437 348 (Hours: 7am to 10pm daily)
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The Alcohol and Drug Support Line
A confidential, non-judgemental 24/7 telephone counselling, information and referral service for anyone in Western Australia seeking help for their own, or another person’s, alcohol or drug use.
Contact:
Metro callers: (08) 9442 5000
Country callers: 1800 198 024
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The Parent and Family Drug Support Line
A confidential, non-judgemental 24/7 telephone counselling, information and referral service for anyone concerned about a loved one’s alcohol or drug use.
Contact:
Metro callers: (08) 9442 5050
Country callers: 1800 653 203