Free needles save tax-payers millions

22 Oct 2009, 4:23 pm   -   Source: SBS staff and agencies
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Needle exchanges are a topic of debate as some communities fear they attract drug users to their neighbourhoods. (Getty)

Needle exchanges are a topic of debate as some communities fear they attract drug users to their neighbourhoods. (Getty)

A new study shows that taxpayers 'gain' four dollars for every one invested in needle exchange programs, amid calls to increase access to clean needles nationwide.

Calls have been made to expand needle exchange programs across the country amid claims that supply is not keeping up with demand.

The claims come as a new study shows that taxpayers gain four dollars for every dollar invested in needle exchange services.

Research by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research shows that programs aimed at cutting transmissible disease among intravenous drug users cost $243 million in ten years.

It also found that the reduced incidence of needle sharing over a decade has prevented 32,000 new HIV infections and almost 100,000 new cases of hepatitis C.

According to the research, this translates to taxpayers saving almost $1.3 billion in health costs.

Around 30 million syringes are handed out to intravenous drug users around Australia each year.

They are distributed by needle exchange centres, or through needle dispensers dotted around the country.

Over the last two decades, demand has increased, along with the clientele.

Needle dispensers offer drug users a discreet way to obtain syringes, but experts say there are not enough of them.

They hope that communities and governments across the country will accept them, as more evidence is gathered about their effectiveness.
 

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